President Xi Praises China-Russia Relations In Front Of Putin: Obtained Hardly

JAKARTA - President Xi Jinping praised China and Russia's cooperation when they received President Vladimir Putin's visit, saying Beijing would always be a good partner for Moscow.

President Putin started a two-day visit to China by meeting President Xi at the People's Hall, Beijing, discussing issues of bilateral cooperation, the Ukraine conflict to global conditions.

"Chinese-Russian relations are currently being obtained with difficulty, and both sides need to respect and maintain them," President Xi said.

"Chinese are willing to jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold honesty and justice in the world," he continued.

Meanwhile, President Putin told President Xi their cooperation was a stabilizing factor.

"It is very important that relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and are not aimed at anyone," he was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

The Kremlin leadership described the initial session of their meeting as "hot and friendly". He also outlined the sectors in which the two strengthened relations, ranging from nuclear and energy cooperation, food supplies to Chinese car manufacturing in Russia. The two also signed a statement to deepen strategic relations between the two countries.

Regarding the Ukraine conflict, President Putin thanked the Bamboo Curtain country for trying to resolve the conflict.

Beijing and Moscow declared an "infinity" partnership in February 2022, when President Putin visited Beijing just days before he gave the green light to special military operations in Ukraine.

Kremlin's Foreign Policy Advisor, Yuri Ushakov, said China's election as the destination for President Putin's first overseas visit after re-imposing for a new term was a response to a similar friendly attitude made by President Xi last year.