On February 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in which the two men stressed that no external force can lead to a corner between their two countries.
According to reading the Chinese Foreign Ministry, XI said to Putin: “History and reality clearly tell us that China and Russia are good neighbors who cannot be distant, as well as real friends who share difficulties, support each other and pursue a common development.” He then stressed that the Chinese-Russia relationship “has a strong internal driving force and a unique strategic value. It is not intended for any third party or affected by a third party. »»
Putin accepted. A Kremlin declaration The city saying: “Russian-Chinese political ties are an essential factor of stabilization of world affairs. This relationship is of a strategic nature, not subject to political prejudices, and does not target anyone. »»
The message was clear: the recent resumption of dialogue between the United States and Russia has no impact on the links of China-Russia. Some figures from the Trump administration had argued that their efforts to normalize links with Russia – including the search for the Russia -Ukraine war Extremely favorable to Moscow – Could lead a corner between Beijing and Moscow.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after discussions with Russia in Riyadh earlier this month, spoke of “incredible opportunities” To associate with Russia, which he said: “Hopefully it will be good for the world and will also improve our long -term relationships”.
Most analysts Believe the prospect of an “reverse kissinger” is a little likely; Putin-XI’s latest call should rest with such hopes.
(However, China can try to obscure the strength of this message to a foreign audience. In particular, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official translation of English Reading, the line that China and Russia cannot be distant “have been deleted.)
The call would have lasted Over an hour and a halfAn even more notable length because Xi and Putin spoke for the last time just over a month ago, January 21. The frequency and duration of their conversations itself prove that Moscow takes pain to keep Beijing informed of new developments in order to avoid any disturbance of the Chinese-Russia relationship.
The subject of Russia-St. US relations was explicitly discussed during the last call. “Putin informed her counterpart of the recent Russian-American contacts,” said the Kremlin press release. “The president of China expressed support for the dialogue initiated between Russia and the United States, as well as for the preparation of China to find ways to peacefully settle the Ukrainian conflict.”
Reading China cited Xi saying that “China welcomes the positive efforts made by Russia and the relevant parts to resolve the crisis”.
China and Russia will hold a number of exchanges this year. Not only does China hosts the annual meeting of the Shanghai cooperation organization – which will see Putin visit China – but the two countries plan to host events celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. China and Russia will use such commemorations to highlight their relationship and increase their global position by taking advantage of the 1945 victory in the “World Anti-Fascist War”.
China and Russia should take advantage of the birthday to “save jointly … The fruits of victory during the Second World War … and to call on all countries to observe the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter, confirm The universally recognized fundamental standards of international relations, and follow true multilateralism, “said Xi.
In this spirit, the Chinese leader expects Chinese-Russian relations to reach “new summits” in 2025.