China’s Xi makes 1st Moscow go to as Putin wages Ukraine conflict

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow to carry talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. China has described Xi’s journey as a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin enter a hall for talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, in 2019. (Photo: AP)

By Associated Press: Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday on a three-day visit that shows off Beijing’s new diplomatic swagger and offers a welcome political lift for Russian President Vladimir Putin as the fighting in Ukraine slows to a grinding war of attrition.

China and Russia have described Xi’s trip as part of efforts to further deepen their “no-limits friendship.” China appears to be like to Russia as a supply of oil and gasoline for its energy-hungry financial system, and as a associate in opposing what each see as U.S. domination of world affairs.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that over dinner on Monday, Putin and Xi will contact on points associated to Ukraine, including that Russia’s president will seemingly supply a “detailed explanation” of Moscow’s view on the present state of affairs.

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Broader talks involving officers from each nations on a spread of topics are scheduled for Tuesday, in line with Peskov.

For Putin, Xi’s presence on the Kremlin is a status go to and a diplomatic triumph, permitting him to inform Western leaders allied with Ukraine that their efforts to isolate him have fallen brief. Xi’s journey comes simply days after the International Criminal Court in The Hague introduced it desires to place Putin on trial for the abductions of 1000’s of kids from Ukraine.

China portrays Xi’s go to as a part of regular diplomatic exchanges and has provided little element about what the journey goals to perform, although the almost 13 months of conflict in Ukraine solid an extended shadow on the talks.

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At a every day briefing in Beijing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated Xi’s journey was a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace.”

On the conflict, Wang stated: “China will uphold its objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis and play a constructive role in promoting peace talks.”

Beijing’s leap into Ukraine points follows its latest success in brokering talks between Iran and its chief Middle Eastern rival, Saudi Arabia, which agreed to revive their diplomatic ties after years of tensions.

Flushed with that success, Xi referred to as for China to play an even bigger position in managing world affairs.

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“President Xi will have an in-depth exchange of views with President Putin on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern,” Wang stated.

He added that Xi goals to “promote strategic coordination and practical cooperation between the two countries and inject new impetus into the development of bilateral relations.”

China final month referred to as for a cease-fire and peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijing’s involvement, however the overture fizzled.

The Kremlin has welcomed China’s peace plan and stated it might be mentioned in talks between Putin and Xi that can start over dinner.

Washington strongly rejected Beijing’s name for a cease-fire because the efficient ratification of the Kremlin’s battlefield positive factors.

Kyiv officers say they gained’t bend of their phrases for a peace accord.

“The first and main point is the capitulation or withdrawal of the Russian occupation troops from the territory of Ukraine in accordance with the norms of international law and the UN Charter,” Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, tweeted on Monday.

That means restoring “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” he wrote.

Xi’s journey to Russia comes after the International Criminal Court on Friday issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest on conflict crimes expenses.

The Kremlin doesn’t acknowledge the authority of the the International Criminal Court and has rejected its transfer in opposition to Putin as “legally null and void.” China, the United States and Ukraine don’t acknowledge the ICC, both, however the court docket’s announcement tarnished Putin’s worldwide standing.

China’s overseas ministry on Monday referred to as on the ICC to “respect the jurisdictional immunity” of a head of state and “avoid politicization and double standards.”

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, stated Monday that the International Criminal Court’s transfer to problem an arrest warrant for Putin could have “monstrous consequences” for worldwide legislation.

“A gloomy sunset of the entire system of international relations is coming, trust is exhausted,” Medvedev wrote on his messaging app channel.

He argued that previously the ICC has destroyed its credibility by failing to prosecute the purported U.S. conflict crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He additionally cautioned that the court docket in The Hague may very well be a goal for a Russian missile strike. Medvedev has prior to now made bombastic statements and claims.

Published On:

Mar 20, 2023