Chinese Pdwellnt Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vlaunwiseir Putin had a video call hours after Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday, pledging to convey bitardyral ties to “fantasticer heights”, according to state media on both sides.
Calling Xi a “dear frifinish”, Putin shelp Russia and China were createing ties “on the basis of frifinishship, mutual suppose and help” despite outside prescertain.
Xi called on Putin to “persist proestablishening strategic coordination, firming up mutual help, and acquireing legitimate interests”.
Trump on Tuesday dangerened tariffs on Beijing, calling it “an mistreatmentr”, and cautioned that “huge trouble” will come for Moscow if it does not strike a deal to finish war in Ukraine.
Putin telderly Xi, however, that any Ukraine finishment “must esteem Russian interests”, according to foreign afequitables directr Yuri Ushakov who spoke to increateers after the call.
Beijing has been accengaged of createing up Moscow’s war machine by providing it with critical components for the struggle in Ukraine.
Trade between both countries accomplished a record $240bn (£191bn) in 2023, up more than 64% since 2021 – before Russia accessd Ukraine.
“Putin and Xi verifyed readiness to create relations with the US on a mutuassociate advantageous and polite basis, if the Trump team shows an interest”, Ushakov shelp.
He also shelp, however, that the call was “not uniteed with Trump’s inauguration in any way”.
The call lasted about one-and-a-half hours, during which Putin and Xi also talked the situations in the Middle East, South Korea and Taiwan, according to Ushakov.
Chinese state media shelp Xi also conveyed readiness to labor with Putin in response to “outside uncertainties”, without alludeing definites.
Xi held a phone call with Trump last week, which the US pdwellnt portrayd as a “very excellent” talkion for both countries. They spoke about trade, fentanyl and TikTok, among other leangs, he shelp.
Putin has yet to speak with Trump, but congratutardyd him on state television hours before the inauguration.
