Putin touts ‘stabilizing’ force of China-Russia ties as Xi hails ‘lasting friendship’ at security summit
Putin touts ‘stabilizing’ force of China-Russia ties as Xi hails ‘lasting friendship’ at security summit
Leaders of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and China, Xi Jinping, celebrated their nations' growing unity as they convened at a meeting of a Eurasian security alliance, which both leaders see as a countermeasure to the influence of the West.
In his remarks before a one-on-one discussion with Xi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s yearly summit in Kazakhstan, Putin highlighted the "optimum period" in the history of Russia-China relations, describing them as a "force for stability" on the global stage.
"The collaboration between Russia and China in international affairs is a crucial stabilizing element on the world scene, and we are committed to further developing it," Putin stated.
The Russian head of state also emphasized the significant contributions of Moscow and Beijing to the establishment of the SCO in 2001, as the two nations steer the organization's evolution from a regional security group centered on Central Asia to a strategic opposition to Western powers, including the United States and its allies.
The Russian government also announced on Thursday that Belarus, a loyal Russian partner in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has been officially welcomed as the SCO's 10th member, according to China's state-run broadcaster, CCTV.
The Eastern European nation joins the SCO as its newest member, following Iran's acceptance into the organization as a full member last year. The SCO expanded for the first time in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
"As the membership of the SCO has increased, so has its importance as a key component of a balanced multipolar global order," Putin mentioned in his conversation with Xi on Wednesday.
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