Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Moscow at the Kremlin on May 8. They signed a joint statement to deepen their partnership, emphasizing unity amidst global uncertainties brought on by the “America First” diplomacy of US President Donald Trump.
Following lengthy talks, Putin and Xi signed a joint statement on further strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership. The leaders highlighted their relationship as a stabilizing force in the face of geopolitical challenges, aiming to defend a multipolar world order and promote inclusive economic globalization.
Xi’s visit to Russia coincides with the Victory Day military parade, commemorating the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. Against a backdrop of global uncertainties and changing dynamics in US relations, both leaders emphasized their stable and positive role in the international community.
Despite shifting geopolitical landscapes, Putin and Xi projected unity and friendship during their meeting, underscoring the importance of their partnership in navigating current global challenges. The visit symbolizes the deepening ties between Russia and China amidst evolving international dynamics.
Their relationship was described as “composed and confident, stable and resilient.” Over the past decade, the two leaders have met more than 40 times, steadily strengthening their partnership in the face of shared tensions with the West. Putin noted that ambitious goals had been set out in their joint statement, focusing on deepening economic and technological ties and aiming for a significant qualitative advancement of Russian-Chinese trade and investment by 2030.
The daily work to maintain positive trade dynamics continues, with Russia now the world’s leading importer of Chinese automobiles. The establishment of manufacturing and the transfer of Chinese industrial expertise to Russia has been welcomed. Despite Western accusations, China has emerged as a key economic lifeline for Russia as it faces sanctions in the conflict with Ukraine.
The pact between the two countries has injected new momentum into China-Russia relations, with both leaders praising the progress made over the past decade despite international turbulence. Over 20 documents covering various areas such as global stability, international law, biosecurity, and digital economy were signed during their talks.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of a ceasefire in Ukraine, coinciding with a military parade in Russia. Despite the ceasefire, reports of Russian airstrikes over Ukrainian territory have emerged. The ongoing conflict has led to tensions, with Ukraine launching drone attacks on Moscow in response to Russia’s assault on Ukrainian territory.
The Victory Day celebrations in Russia will see more than two dozen leaders in attendance and troops from 13 countries marching in the parade. The event provides Putin with the opportunity to showcase his global leadership role amid the ongoing conflicts and international tensions.
In an escalating global environment of conflict, tensions between India and Pakistan are rising, posing a serious risk of eruption into a full-scale war. Russia observes Victory Day on May 9 as a significant national event commemorating Nazi Germany’s surrender to the Soviet Union in 1945. This day has gained heightened importance in recent years under Putin’s leadership, who has inaccurately portrayed the conflict in Ukraine as a fight against Nazism. The military parade has seen a decrease in the display of hardware, with Russian tanks now deployed at the front lines of the Ukraine conflict. Europe marks VE Day on Thursday, commemorating Germany’s surrender on all fronts. This report includes contributions from CNN’s Darya Tarasova and the CNN bureau in Beijing. Stay updated with more news and newsletters from CNN by registering an account at CNN.com.
