Xi Jinping rejects US ‘interference’ in phone call with Putin: Kremlin

Last October, Vladimir Putin met Xi Jinping during a rare trip to Beijing. (document)

Moscow:

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of “interfering” in their affairs in a phone call on Thursday, the Kremlin said.

Over the past two years, Western countries have become increasingly anxious about Moscow and Beijing as they have strengthened trade and defense ties as both countries seek to expand their global influence.

The Kremlin said Xi and Putin condemned “the U.S. policy of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries” during their hour-long phone call.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said: “The leaders of the two countries realize that the United States is actually implementing a dual containment policy against Russia and China.”

Moscow has viewed Beijing as a vital economic lifeline since Western countries imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia over its military attacks in Ukraine.

At the same time, China benefits from cheap Russian energy imports and abundant natural resources, including the steady flow of natural gas through the Power of Siberia pipeline.

According to Chinese customs data, trade volume between the two countries has surged in the past two years and will reach $240.1 billion by 2023, an annual growth rate of 26%.

‘unlimited’

Beijing and Moscow announced an “unrestricted” partnership just days before Russia launched a full-scale military offensive against Ukraine, expanding ties despite most Western countries rejecting Moscow.

China itself has faced criticism, particularly from the United States, on some thorny issues, including its increasingly bellicose behavior toward self-ruled democratic Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.

“While discussing the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian president reiterated his principled position on the Taiwan issue, which is his support for the ‘One China’ policy,” the Kremlin said in a statement about the call.

Xi Jinping said the two countries “should maintain close strategic coordination, defend their respective national sovereignty, security and development interests, and resolutely oppose interference in internal affairs by external forces,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The Chinese leader also wished Putin well in the upcoming presidential election, according to the Kremlin.

“Xi Jinping said he was aware that Russia is currently in the midst of a campaign and wished success in the upcoming March elections,” Ushakov said.

Putin, who faces isolation from most Western countries over the conflict in Ukraine, made a rare trip to Beijing last October to meet with Xi Jinping.

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