XI and Putin praise close relationships after Trump's taking office

XI and Putin praise close relationships after Trump's taking office

from Hong Kong reports that the Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced at a video conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that he wanted to raise the relationships between China and Russia to a new level this year. This happened just a few hours after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

annual tradition between XI and Putin

The two heads of state have made a tradition to speak every year at the turn of the year. This personal connection has contributed to consolidating a partnership between its countries that only deepened in the course of Putin's war against Ukraine.

strengthening bilateral relationships

XI was ready to counter the "China Russia relationships to a new height" and "external uncertainties" with the "stability and resilience of the China Russia connections", as can be seen from a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized that the two countries should deepen their "strategic coordination" and "practical cooperation" and support each other.

economic cooperation in focus

Putin praised the growing trade between the two nations, which according to Chinese data has reached a record last year. He referred to her joint efforts to shape a global order that she found as unfair dominated by the United States. "We are united in promoting a fairer multipolar world order and ensuring indivisible security both in the Eurasian area and globally," said Putin.

Trump and the realignment of US policy

The call between the two autocrats takes place against the background of Trump's return to the White House. Both leaders publicly expressed the desire to improve the tense relationships with the United States under the new government. Trump has also signaled interest in meeting both leaders at an early stage, although it remains unclear how the new regime will be towards the US competition.

diplomatic triangular relationships?

Trump has expressed his personal admiration for both guides, but he is expected to ask each of the two concessions to create a balanced economic field between the United States and China and to end Putin's assault on Ukraine. Trump announced on Tuesday that he would consider additional sanctions against Russia if Putin should not return to the negotiating table.

China's role as a mediator

xi is also regarded as someone who wants to build a good relationship with Trump in order to avoid harmful tariffs in a time of economic weakness in China. At the same time, however, he could be careful not to endanger his partnership with Russia, since Xi Putin sees as an important partner in the broader tensions with the West. Both countries did diplomacy to remember the 80th anniversary of the joint victory in World War II, which was discussed on Tuesday during the call.

The reporting of CNN about these developments was supported by Betsy Klein and Fred He.