2023 visit by Xi Jinping to Russia

2023 - 3 - 23

No path to peace: Five key takeaways from Xi and Putin's talks in ... (CNN)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have made a sweeping affirmation of their alignment across a host of issues -- and shared ...

The statement did not acknowledge that Russia’s invasion and military assault were the cause of ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The leaders’ central statement focused on how the two countries would “deepen” their relationship. Zelensky praised Kishida and other leaders who have visited as “showing respect” not only for Ukraine but “for the preservation and functioning of civilized rules and civilized life in the world.” “Given Japan’s strength, its leadership in Asia in defending peace and the rules-based international order, and Japan’s responsibility as the (Group of Seven) chair, our talks today can truly yield a global result,” he said in a nightly address Tuesday. Putin in comments to media added that further growth in Russian gas exports to China was discussed, including “implementation of the initiative to build the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline through the territory of Mongolia.” In their joint statement, the two authoritarian leaders called for promoting a “multipolar world” – a buzzword for a system not led by so-called Western values and rules, and pledged to work together to “safeguard the international system,” and the United Nations – where the two have a track record of blocking motions, including against actors like North Korea. Alexander Korolev, an international relations expert at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said the joint statement showed an “overall convergence of Chinese and Russian world views and approaches to many international issues.” Putin said that “many of the provisions” could be “taken as the basis” for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, “when the West and Kyiv are ready for it,” in comments to reporters following Tuesday talks. Experts say that China and Russia’s inclination to build their alignment against the US – and a world order more suited to their own more autocratic agendas – was driving the meeting, not interest in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. [“political solution”](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/23/china/china-position-political-settlement-ukraine-intl-hnk/index.html) to the conflict calling for a ceasefire and peace talks. On Tuesday, Zelensky said a ceasefire would “simply freeze” the conflict, giving Russia time to “prepare and come back again with their single wish, the wish of their leader - that is to occupy our country.” Both leaders called for the cessation of actions that “increase tensions” and “prolong” the war in Ukraine, according to their joint statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry.

Putin should be under no illusion – Xi is not Russia's knight in ... (The Guardian)

China's leader knows full well his country cannot pay the price – economic or political – of openly challenging the west, says political science professor ...

It is [vastly dependent](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64563855) on US and European trade, with the US dollar and the euro making up substantial parts of [Chinese monetary reserves](https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/china-may-move-to-limit-impact-of-us-financial-weapons.html). In the absence of a popular mandate, economic growth is the only sure political survival strategy for non-democratic leaders, and Xi is not about to jeopardise his own security to help out Putin. [still reeling](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/15/china-provinces-spent-almost-pounds-43bn-on-covid-measures-in-2022) from three years of the zero-Covid policy and a real-estate crisis. [Russia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/russia) and China’s “shared interests” is equally flawed. China would jump in to substitute the lost western exports, provide Russia with much needed military [equipment and supplies](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/19/china-may-be-on-brink-of-supplying-arms-to-russia-says-blinken), and help negotiate peace on Russia’s terms. [Ukraine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) offers China little insight into the west’s military strategy for defending Taiwan, a long-term western protege that China claims as its own territory. Instead, the visit was a signal to the west. Russia is asking a lot from China, but it is China that has all the leverage in this relationship. Russia looks to China, the only major power that has not condemned the invasion of Ukraine, as its economic bondsman, a potential weapons supplier and a “peace” advocate. Xi came and went, making [no firm commitments](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/21/putins-two-day-charm-offensive-with-xi-underlines-whos-boss) and leaving Putin and his cronies agape with disappointment. [opinion leaders](https://eng.globalaffairs.ru/) have prominently featured China as a key player that would help Russia win the war. [crepe and quail meal](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/21/putin-xi-talks-moscow-japanese-pm-to-ukraine), photo ops and ceremonial signings.

China's Xi tells Putin of 'changes not seen for 100 years' (Aljazeera.com)

President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin bid each other farewell after talks in Moscow.

[Russia-China ties enter ‘new era’ as Xi meets Putin in Moscow](/news/2023/3/21/chinas-xi-says-ties-with-russia-entering-new-era?traffic_source=KeepReading) [‘Totally overblown’: Russia calls UN meet on Ukraine’s taken kids](/news/2023/3/21/russia-to-hold-un-meeting-on-ukraine-kids-taken-to-russia?traffic_source=KeepReading) [Police raid on Russian human rights group draws condemnation](/news/2023/3/21/police-raid-on-russian-human-rights-group-draws-condemnation?traffic_source=KeepReading) [“no limits” partnership](/economy/2023/3/21/no-limits-partnership-xi-and-putins-economic-priorities) the two leaders announced last February, less than three weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. [signed an agreement](/news/2023/3/21/chinas-xi-says-ties-with-russia-entering-new-era) bringing their ties into a “new era” of cooperation.

China's Xi leaves Russia after giving Putin a major boost, but no ... (CBS News)

China's President Xi Jinping left Moscow Wednesday morning after a closely watched, highly choreographed visit that saw him stand shoulder to shoulder with ...

After the strong show of support — but no mention of an agreement for China to supply weapons or other lethal aid — Xi left Russia. "It's very scary, because people die every day," Lilya, who lives in the liberated southern city of Kherson, told CBS News. In a display of unity and an apparent swipe at Western nations that have helped Ukraine fight Russia's invasion, including the U.S., the men signed a joint statement saying it was necessary to "respect legitimate security concerns of all countries." Xi and Putin agreed that the war should be settled through dialogue, but they proposed no framework nor detail for any new peace initiative. and its allies have dismissed and derided as a stalling tactic, as it includes no call for Russian forces to withdraw from Ukraine. "We are staying here.

The leaders of China and Russia have finished talks. Here are some ... (NPR)

China's Xi Jinping says he has a peace plan for Ukraine and wants to mediate an end to the war. Ukraine and its neighbors are skeptical.

"Right now there are changes the likes of which we haven't seen for 100 years," Xi told Putin. Xi [called for ](http://www.news.cn/politics/leaders/2023-03/22/c_1129452447.htm)expanding cooperation in sectors like energy and supply chains after his meeting with Putin. China now accounts for nearly a third of all Russian exports, and Russia [recently became](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/3/20/russia-overtakes-saudi-arabia-as-chinas-top-oil-supplier) China's top oil supplier. dollar, to settle cross-border trade, including for oil and gas. Edward's University in Texas and a scholar of Sino-Russian relations. [issued an arrest warrant](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164267436/international-criminal-court-arrest-warrant-putin-ukraine-alleged-war-crimes) for Putin for alleged war crimes. TAIPEI and MOSCOW — China's top leader Xi Jinping has wrapped up a state visit to Moscow, where he held nearly three full days of talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Instead, the two men greeted each other warmly as "dear friend." Speaking to Xi in front of cameras at the start of discussions Monday, Putin said he had "carefully studied" the Chinese proposals, was "open to peace talks," and welcomed China's "constructive role." It was an awkward moment: Putin has remained coy about his future political plans. [published](https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/gjhdq_676201/gj_676203/oz_678770/1206_679110/xgxw_679116/202303/t20230322_11046176.shtml) after the visit stressed the two countries would seek to increase their use of "local currency," such as the Chinese yuan rather than the U.S. [surged](https://www.reuters.com/world/china-customs-says-trade-with-russia-hit-new-high-2022-2023-01-13/) in the last year.

Despite Xi's trip to Russia, dialogue between China and Ukraine is ... (The Guardian)

Kyiv remains keen not to anger Beijing given its influence over Moscow, and Zelenskiy is open to a meeting.

Our goal is to gather many around us to isolate one [Russia],” he said, and added: “We would like to have a meeting with China.” “I think some of the Chinese proposals respect international law, and I think we can work on it with China. [peace plan for dealing with the war](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/24/china-calls-for-russia-ukraine-war-peace-talks). “The very fact that Xi travelled to Moscow in a sign of support for Putin is not good news for Ukraine.” “For Ukraine, it is important not to make the situation worse with In an effort to avoid Chinese wrath, Kyiv last year abstained from condemning China in a UN vote over the country’s persecution of its Uyghur Muslim minority.

Xi's trip to Moscow didn't impress the west – but his most important ... (The Guardian)

Xi wants to be a strong ally to Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, and a global peacemaker. Both cannot be true. The red carpet and more – a brass band, ...

“Since he has messed up the economy domestically, he is trying to reach out on the foreign policy side, which is in some ways a bit easier.” Because while Xi may have all but given up on the hope of convincing the west that China is neutral in the Ukraine crisis, at home, and to countries in the global south, he is projecting an image of being a global statesman. The official narrative in China is that the US responds to problems militarily, while China uses dialogue. “Therefore it is the year in which you’d expect him to leave more of a footprint,” says Tsang. Such a call would have at least been a nod to Xi’s claims to be a neutral mediator. [two-day visit](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/21/putins-two-day-charm-offensive-with-xi-underlines-whos-boss) to Moscow.