Russia and China are fighting ‘common threats’ says Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia and China are fighting “common threats” ahead of welcoming China’s President Xi Jinping for a state visit.
Putin wrote in the People’s Daily newspaper saying Xi’s visit is a “landmark event” that “reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership”.
The outlet is the official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Xi’s state visit to Moscow will last for three days.
The Chinese president took to the Kremlin’s Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily to write a 12-point peace plan drafted by Beijing last month to end the war in Ukraine reflects “the unity of the world community’s views”.
Xi’s visit on Monday marks the first by a foreign leader since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin.
Justice ministers from more than 40 nations will be in London later to support the investigation into alleged war crimes – including the abduction of children.
Xi’s visit to discuss Ukraine war and economic partnership
Mr Putin is scheduled to have a one-to-one meeting with Mr Xi on Monday, according to the Kremlin, before holding further negotiations on Tuesday and giving a statement to the media.
Xi’s article was focused on the war in Ukraine. Beijing has tried to avoid criticising Russia whilst calling for peace.
Putin claimed he is “open to the political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis” and welcomes Beijing’s recent ceasefire proposals, which the Chinese leader promoted in his article.
The peace plan – which includes respecting “the sovereignty of all countries” and ending any sanctions – is “constructive” and promotes a “political settlement”, Mr Xi claimed.
Both leaders have also stressed the importance of their countries’ economic partnership.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been largely cut off from Western markets, but Putin wrote that Russia’s trade with China is “growing, further strengthening the sovereignty of our relations”.
Mr Xi said Beijing and Moscow wanted “an all-encompassing partnership” that would deliver in a world threatened by “acts of hegemony, despotism, and bullying”.