(Moscow) Chinese President Xi Jinping left Moscow on Wednesday morning after a two-day visit to Russia that focused on strengthening ties with his counterpart Vladimir Putin, Russian agencies reported.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported that Xi’s plane left Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after it was greeted by a guard of honor who played the Russian and Chinese national anthems. The take-off was attended by senior officials of the Russian government.
During this visit, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping on Tuesday hailed the entry into a “new era” of their “special” relationship with the West, and the Russian president cautiously supported the Chinese plan to settle the conflict in Ukraine, accusing Kiev of rejecting it. for him.
In the absence of a breakthrough on Ukraine, the summit aimed above all to show the strength of relations between Russia and China, in the context of the escalating tensions between these countries and the West.
In a joint statement with overtones of the Cold War, the two leaders attacked the West vigorously, accusing the United States of “undermining” international security to maintain its “military advantage,” and expressing “concern” about NATO’s growing presence in Asia.
Mr. Xi’s trip to Moscow was an important support for the Russian head of state, who has been targeted since last week with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
The Chinese president’s visit to Russia also comes at a time when the latter has largely reorientated its economy towards China, in the face of Western sanctions targeting it.
In this context, Mr. Putin announced on Tuesday that he had reached an agreement with Mr. Xi on the giant Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, which will allow Russia to supply 50 billion cubic meters of additional gas annually.
Treated as a pariah by Westerners since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Putin can count on Beijing to break the isolation: thus Mr. Xi invited him to visit China this year.
