Xi Jinping Talks With Putin, Appreciates Russia-US New Contacts

JAKARTA - China appreciates the new relationship between Russia and the United States to advance the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

This was conveyed by President Xi Jinping in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, August 8.

Beijing will maintain its stance on the need for peace negotiations and diplomatic solutions to the conflict, China's state television station CCTV quoted.

The phone call was made at Putin's request. The phone call came after the Kremlin said Putin would meet US President Donald Trump in the coming days to find the end of the war, which is now entering its fourth year.

Trump took a softer approach to Russia after returning to the White House in January, but has voiced growing frustration against Putin over the lack of progress towards peace and has threatened to impose a high tariff on countries including China buying Russian oil.

Trump on Wednesday said he could announce further rates against China, similar to the 25% import duties he has imposed on India for the purchase of Russian oil.

A spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Trump's statement by affirming China's trade and energy cooperation with Russia was "fair and legitimate".

"We will continue to take reasonable steps to ensure energy security based on our own national interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

The phone call between Xi and Putin on Friday was the second in less than two months.

The two countries have further strengthened their economic, trade and security cooperation since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting a sharp decline in Moscow's relations with the West.

Putin is expected to visit China in September to attend an 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.