Russia and China to fight ‘coercion’ on world stage – Xi

The two countries bear a “special responsibility” before the international community, the Chinese president has said

Beijing and Moscow have a duty to oppose unilateralism and coercion on the world stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Xi has arrived in Moscow to take part in festivities dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on May 9.

Before the start of the talks on Thursday, Xi praised close bilateral relations, stating that “China is ready to jointly bear a special responsibility with Russia, as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, to courageously defend the truth about the history of World War II” in the face of what he called “negative trends of unilateral actions and power-based coercion in the world.”

The Chinese leader also noted that under his and Putin’s “strategic guidance,” the relations between the two countries had entered a new era. “Our political interaction is strengthening, practical cooperation is deepening, and cultural, humanitarian, exchange, and interregional ties are gaining momentum,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Putin noted that the cooperation between the two nations is not directed against any third party. “We are developing our ties for the benefit of both peoples and not against anyone. Our relations are equal, mutually beneficial, and not opportunistic. The intention to build good-neighborliness, strengthen friendship, and expand cooperation is a strategic choice made by Russia and China,” he said.

Russia and China have enjoyed close ties for decades, with the two nations affirming a “no-limits” partnership in 2022. Moscow and Beijing have also increasingly shifted away from reliance on the US dollar, with both countries expanding trade in their national currencies. According to Russian officials, the share of bilateral transactions conducted in rubles and yuan now exceeds 95%.