Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have voiced their concerns over what they perceive as unwarranted interference by the United States in the internal matters of sovereign nations. The announcement was made by the Kremlin following a phone conversation between the two leaders that lasted for more than an hour.
The discussion, which lasted an hour on Thursday, was primarily centred on the United States’ alleged policy of intruding into the domestic affairs of other countries. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov briefed the media, revealing that Putin and Xi condemned these actions and discussed the vision of establishing a multipolar world that ensures fairness and equality, contrary to the US’s attempts to limit the influence of Russia and China.
Ushakov highlighted the understanding between Moscow and Beijing that the US is engaging in a strategic approach to contain both nations, signalling significant geopolitical tension simultaneously. The collaboration between Russia and China, especially in the realms of trade and defence, has been tightening, causing worry in Western circles regarding their growing clout on the global stage.
The economic ties between the two countries have notably strengthened, with bilateral trade reaching $218.2 billion in the first eleven months of the year, surpassing their set target a year in advance. This growth comes as Russia turns to China amidst heavy sanctions from the West due to its actions in Ukraine, and China benefits from reduced costs for Russian energy and access to natural resources.
Furthermore, the two nations are transitioning towards conducting trade using their own currencies, moving away from the US dollar, and aiming to create a more reliable financial infrastructure for transactions.
On geopolitical issues, Putin and Xi discussed Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, maintaining a united stance on these conflicts. Their partnership has deepened despite Western alienation, particularly following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine and amidst criticisms directed at China regarding its stance on Taiwan and other sensitive matters.
The Kremlin’s statement reaffirmed Russia’s support for the “one China” policy, particularly concerning Taiwan, a stance that was reciprocated by Xi, who stressed the importance of strategic collaboration to safeguard their sovereign, security, and development interests against external interference.
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