In a harmonious gesture, Russian and Chinese rulers Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping ended their talks in China. After a one-day program in Beijing, Putin and Xi shook hands for the first time on Thursday evening and shortly afterwards hugged each other in farewell – and the US was frothing with anger.
Xi waved after his guest as he rode into the darkness in a limousine, as seen in a video from state broadcaster CCTV. It was a special display of intimacy between the autocrats in times of war. On Friday, Putin continued his two-day state visit to the northern Chinese city of Harbin.
During talks the previous day in Beijing, Putin and Xi agreed to continue close cooperation. China and the war party Russia also spoke out in favor of a solution through a political agreement in Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Putin praised China’s peace efforts.
The symbolic hug in the video:
However, Beijing has not yet agreed to the upcoming peace conference in Switzerland. A twelve-point plan that China proposed more than a year ago to resolve the conflict received little international support due to its vague proposals.
The US criticizes friendly interactions
The US government has described Chinese support for Russia as an obstacle to rapprochement with the West, in light of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s friendly meeting with Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin. China cannot “dance at two weddings at the same time,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Vedant Patel said on Thursday.
Better relations with Europe and other countries are not possible for Beijing if the country simultaneously poses “the greatest threat to European security in a long time,” the spokesperson emphasized, referring to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Does Beijing hold the keys?
The US sees China as playing a key role in the conflict in Ukraine, even though Beijing does not directly supply weapons to Russia for the war. According to the US government, China is the main supplier of parts to the Russian defense industry. Without this support, “Russia would find it difficult to continue its attack on Ukraine,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to China in late April.
China, on the other hand, claims to take a neutral position in the war in Ukraine. However, during their meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Xi and Putin celebrated their partnership. Xi called Sino-Russian relations “conducive to peace.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
