Xi and Putin have not met for four years. At 4 pm on Tuesday, they will hold a joint press conference. There is great tension as to whether they will talk about the war in Ukraine. Earlier on Tuesday, Xi had a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Misjustin where the economy was the focus. China and Russia will cooperate on 79 projects in oil, gas, coal and nuclear power, and the construction of aircraft and machinery. Road and rail connections will be developed. The Russian Prime Minister and President have been invited to visit China. Gazprom, the state-owned Russian gas company, said on Tuesday that it has delivered a record amount of gas to China in pipes via Siberia. Misjustin believes the trade will reach 200 billion dollars this year. Last year, the sum ended at 185 billion dollars. Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Misjustin in Moscow on Tuesday. Photo: Dmitry Astakhov / AP The US is skeptical and believes China has a tacit acceptance of Russia’s invasion. Because the two countries have increased their economic cooperation. China’s President in meetings with Prime Minister Mikhail Misjustin. Photo: SPUTNIK / Reuters The aim of the meeting is, among other things, to find other ways to pay, in own currencies. So that they don’t have to be locked to dollars and euros, which today makes them vulnerable to sanctions. The Chinese president has also invited Vladimir Putin to China. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes that the meeting in Moscow shows that China and Russia are getting closer and closer to each other. Chinese peace plan for Ukraine On Monday, the two strong men had talks for four and a half hours in which they called each other “dear friends”. Afterwards, Putin escorted Xi out to his limousine as they both smiled widely. In the meetings, the Russian leader said he is open to China’s proposal to end the fighting in Ukraine, a plan that calls for dialogue and respect for all countries’ territorial sovereignty. Xi Jinping visits Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Photo: Grigory Sysoyev / AP Putin hopes the visit will show that they have support against Western dominance, while Xi will try to present himself as a global peacemaker. Xi says China is ready to continue playing a constructive role in finding a solution to the Ukraine crisis, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for his role in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. China believes this is an expression of double standards, and believes the ICC should respect the immunity of heads of state. Skepticism in the West US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the visit shows that China is not trying to hold Putin responsible for the crimes in Ukraine. – Instead of condemning, they give Russia diplomatic support to continue these crimes, says Blinken. The Americans suspect that China is planning to supply Russia with weapons, but the Chinese have denied this. Ukraine, for its part, says it would like to have talks with China, but some such plans are not around the corner. Antony Blinken held a press conference yesterday. Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP China’s 12-point plan for peace in Ukraine is not very concrete, but Western diplomats are keeping a close eye on what might happen. The criticism is that the peace plan will only support Russia’s occupation and give Putin time to prepare for a Ukrainian counter-offensive. There is also a fear that China may follow in Russia’s footsteps and take control of self-governing Taiwan, which China regards as its territory.
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Xi has invited Putin to China – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
