Putin tells Xi he values China's 'balanced position' on Ukraine

Putin tells Xi he values China's 'balanced position' on Ukraine

Russian leader acknowledges Beijing's 'concerns' about conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 15.   © Sputnik/Pool via Reuters

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

September 15, 2022 14:08 JSTUpdated on September 15, 2022 23:59 JST

SHANGHAI -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday that he appreciates Beijing's "balanced position" on Ukraine in their first meeting since Moscow's invasion. 

The two leaders met on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan.

Xi arrived in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand on Wednesday night, after a visit to Kazakhstan. The Chinese leader is on his first known foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in early 2020.

All eyes were on his meeting with Putin. The Russian president said Moscow backs Beijing's "One China" principle, opposes "provocations" by the U.S. in the Taiwan Strait, and that he values China's "balanced position" on Ukraine, according to a Kremlin readout. 

Putin also said he understood that China has "questions and concerns" about the conflict, and that he would explain Moscow's position.

But the readout released by Chinese state news agency Xinhua did not touch on Ukraine.

"China is ready to work with Russia in extending strong support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests," Xi said, citing trade, agriculture and communications as areas for practical bilateral cooperation.

China will collaborate with Russia to play the role of big powers by injecting stability into a turbulent and intertwined world, Xi added.

Xinhua reaffirmed a cordial Beijing-Moscow relationship by quoting Putin.

"The world is undergoing many changes, but the only thing that remains unchanged is the friendship and mutual trust between Russia and China," Putin was quoted as saying. "The comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries is as solid as a mountain."

Just weeks before Russia sent its forces into Ukraine, the two leaders declared a "no limits" relationship. That could be tested as the Kremlin faces one of Ukraine's biggest counteroffensives, raising speculation that Putin may turn to Xi for further support.

China has so far refrained from censuring the invasion, breaking with much of the world and deepening its rift with the U.S. China has also imported record values of Russian energy since the invasion, taking advantage of price discounts due to Western boycotts, according to U.S. risk advisory company Eurasia Group.

But Eurasia analysts led by Neil Thomas recently said Putin was unlikely to get much more out of Xi than trade and investment deals. They said the Chinese president regards Russia as a "counterweight" to U.S. efforts to blunt China's rise.

"Closer China-Russia relations will feed into growing U.S.-China strategic competition and [European Union] alignment with U.S. policy on China, putting more pressure on Chinese growth," the analysts said, suggesting Xi would prefer to avoid such an economic impact.

Before meeting with Putin, Xi held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in which they resolved to expand cooperation. An account of the meeting on the Uzbek leader's website named the automotive industry, green energy, agriculture and infrastructure development as priorities, while highlighting efforts to study China's experience in alleviating poverty. The statement said the two sides signed $15 billion worth of agreements related to trade and investment along with financial and technical cooperation.

Xi was coming off a stop in Kazakhstan that was seen as highly symbolic of China's desire to be the most influential player in Russia's backyard.

Xi raised eyebrows on Wednesday with remarks to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that left much open to interpretation but seemed to resonate in the context of the Ukraine war. "No matter how the international situation changes, we will continue to resolutely support Kazakhstan in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said, according to Tokayev's website, adding that China would "categorically oppose the interference of any forces in the internal affairs of your country."

Besides the Xi-Putin meeting, the SCO summit is closely watched because it brings together other key leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and several more.

Formed in Shanghai in 2001, SCO's initial focus was on battling extremist ideology and terrorism in Central Asia. Its purpose has since expanded to economic cooperation and working with global bodies including the United Nations. But many also see it as a challenge to the Western-led order and institutions.

On Thursday, Iran signed a memorandum toward becoming a permanent member of the SCO, Tehran's foreign minister said, according to Reuters. The move came as Iran seeks to reduce its international isolation and cushion the impact of U.S. sanctions, amid halting progress toward reviving its nuclear deal with Western powers.

NIKKEI  Asia

Sept.15 , 2022