THE Presidents of Russia and China hailed a “new era of friendship” as both allies agreed to further strengthen their military cooperation.
Days before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin declared a “no limits” partnership in the face of opposition by the West.
Putin received a grand welcome as he traveled to Beijing for a two-day state visit this week.
The Russian said he was grateful for China’s initiatives to resolve the war in Ukraine.
Both leaders have been strong allies and personal friends, with Putin’s visit coinciding with the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and China.
Putin’s visit happened a few weeks after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China where he raised concerns about Beijing’s support for Moscow and warned of sanctions while Xi invited the United States to be partners and not rivals.
After ending his trip, Blinken accused China of interference and stated in an interview that Washington has seen evidence of attempts by Beijing to influence the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
Washington last month approved $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine and imposed a series of sanctions on Chinese companies accused of helping Russia in its war with the Ukrainians.
