4-7-2024 (ASTANA) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have once again demonstrated their united front against Western influence during a significant meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The two leaders, who met on Wednesday, used the opportunity to reinforce their commitment to a strategic partnership that they claim serves as a stabilising force in global affairs. Putin, in particular, emphasised the importance of Sino-Russian cooperation, describing it as “one of the main stabilising factors on the international stage” and pledging to further strengthen ties with Beijing.
The Russian leader went on to characterise the current state of bilateral relations as being at their zenith, underpinned by principles of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for sovereignty. This sentiment was echoed by Xi, who stressed the necessity for China and Russia to maintain their enduring friendship in the face of what he termed an “international situation fraught with turbulence and changes”.
Both leaders were keen to present their alliance as a constructive force in global politics. Putin asserted that their cooperation is “not directed against anyone” and denied any intention to create exclusive blocs or alliances. This statement appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to Western-led multilateral mechanisms.
Xi, for his part, called for renewed efforts to “safeguard their legitimate rights and interests” and uphold fundamental norms in international relations. The Chinese president also expressed support for Russia’s chairmanship of the BRICS group, which recently expanded to include Egypt and Iran among its new members.
The meeting also touched upon the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both leaders agreeing that any resolution attempts excluding Russian participation lacked “perspectives”. This stance comes in the wake of a peace summit held in Switzerland in June, which neither Russia nor China attended.
The SCO summit, concluding on Thursday, is expected to approve Belarus as its newest member. As China prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the organisation, the strengthening of ties between Beijing and Moscow signals a continued shift in global power dynamics.
