Putin in Beijing for talks with Xi

Putin sent a video message ahead of talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing. He described Xi as a long-time good friend and said relations between China and Russia have reached a truly unprecedented level. He stated that trade between Russia and China continues to grow. He said the close strategic relationship plays a major stabilizing role globally and that Russia seeks peace and universal prosperity without allying against anyone. The Kremlin said the talks would focus on strengthening Russian-Chinese ties and exchanging views on key international and regional issues. Cooperation has deepened since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with China buying Russian oil under Western sanctions and Russia pursuing a natural gas pipeline project called “Power of Siberia 2” through Mongolia.

"Putin said that China and Russia's relations had reached "a truly unprecedented level" and that "trade between Russia and China continues to grow." "The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilizing role globally. Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity," Putin said. The Kremlin said that Putin and Xi were to discuss ways to "further strengthen" Russian-Chinese ties and "exchange views on key international and regional issues.""

"Russia and China have deepened their cooperation since Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine that isolated it from Western states. China is the world's largest buyer of Russian oil, which is under Western sanctions. Russia also aims to set up a natural gas pipeline to China through Mongolia in a project dubbed the "Power of Siberia 2"."

"In a Tuesday video message, Putin said that China and Russia's relations had reached "a truly unprecedented level" and that "trade between Russia and China continues to grow." The Kremlin said that Putin and Xi were to discuss ways to "further strengthen" Russian-Chinese ties and "exchange views on key international and regional issues.""

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