Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin set their sights on shaping a new world order as the Chinese leader left Moscow on Wednesday, having made no direct support for Putin’s war in Ukraine during his two-day visit.
Xi made a strong show of solidarity with Putin against the West, but he barely mentioned the Ukraine conflict and said on Tuesday that China had an “impartial position”. There was no sign that Xi’s efforts to play the role of peacemaker had yielded results.
Yet, as Xi departed he told Putin: “Now there are changes that haven’t happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes.”
“I agree,” Putin said, to which Xi responded: “Take care of yourself dear friend, please.”
Commenting on the Xi-Putin meeting, the White House said China’s position was not impartial and urged Beijing to pressure Russia to withdraw from Ukraine’s sovereign territory in order to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War Two.
As Xi left Moscow, Ukraine faced a new series of Russian drone attacks, which killed at least three people and damaged some infrastructure across the country, shortly after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida left Kyiv.
Kishida’s surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital stole some of the attention from Xi’s trip.
Xi, Putin pledge new world order as Chinese leader leaves Russia
Xi, Putin pledge new world order as Chinese leader leaves Russia