Chinese President Xi Jinping said during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region is currently at a critical juncture between war and peace, emphasizing that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed and that persisting in negotiations is particularly important.
On Wednesday morning, Xi held a ceremony to welcome President Putin for his state visit to China at the east entrance square of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Xi-Putin summit concluded with an informal “old friends tea chat.”
Xi stated that an early end to hostilities in the Middle East and Gulf region would help reduce disruptions to the stability of energy supplies, the smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, and the order of international trade.
He said he had put forward four points on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, aiming to further build international consensus and to contribute to de-escalating tensions, ending hostilities, and promoting peace.
In addition, Xi said that China and Russia should take a strategic long-term perspective and enhance each other’s development and revitalization with higher-quality comprehensive strategic coordination.
He said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Xi noted that the reason China-Russia relations have progressed step by step to today’s level is that both sides have continuously deepened political mutual trust and strategic coordination with unwavering resolve, have expanded cooperation in various fields with a spirit of striving for new heights, and have defended international fairness and justice and promoted building a community with a shared future for mankind with composure in the face of turbulence.
Xi also said that the current international situation is complex and changing, with rampant unilateral hegemony, but the pursuit of peace, development, and cooperation remains the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world powers, China and Russia should focus on strategic long-term goals, promote each other’s development and revitalization with higher-quality comprehensive strategic coordination, and work to build a more just and reasonable global governance system.
Xi and Putin also agreed to extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.