Putin and Xi Highlight the Russia-China Model for Countries To Rally Around

Sept. 15, 2022 (EIRNS)—China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met for the first time since their historic February 4, 2022 agreement, signed at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. They enjoyed a prolonged bilateral session in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) annual leaders summit. Desperate geopoliticians, looking for weaknesses in the relationship to play upon, did not have a good day.

After their session, the two appeared together, and Putin opened his comments by excoriating Washington’s reckless provocations over Taiwan: “We firmly adhere to the One China principle in practice. We condemn the provocations of the United States and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait.” And, in general, the West’s “attempts to create a unipolar world have acquired in recent times an absolutely ugly configuration and they are absolutely unacceptable for the overwhelming majority of states on this planet.”

Hence, it is critical that

“The Russian-Chinese interstate interaction can be regarded as a model. The foreign policy tandem of Moscow and Beijing plays a key role in ensuring global and regional stability. Together, we support building a just, democratic and multipolar world order based on international rules and the central role of the United Nations, not on certain rules that someone has invented and is attempting to impose on others without even explaining what it is all about.”

In particular, it was “especially important” at the current historical stage

“to ensure an all-round strengthening of the SCO as a platform for constructive and productive interaction. The SCO includes countries with different cultural and civilizational traditions, foreign policy goals and national development models. However, building our work on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, respecting each other's sovereignty, and refraining from interfering in internal affairs made it possible for us to make this organization an effective mechanism for multilateral cooperation.”

President Xi was likewise enthusiastic, as he was quoted by the Kremlin website: “Mr. President, my dear old friend, I am happy to see you again.

“In February, we took pleasure in the joint celebration of the beginning of spring and the opening of the Winter Olympics, as well as our discussion of the ambitious plans to expand Sino-Russian relations.

“Amid the pandemic, we continue to maintain effective strategic contacts, in particular, by way of telephone calls.

“In the face of ongoing formidable global changes that have never been seen in history, we are ready to work with our Russian colleagues to set an example of what a responsible global power is and assume leadership in order to bring the rapidly changing world onto a path of sustainable and positive development.

“I would like to take this opportunity and say that I am prepared to exchange views with you on the bilateral agenda, as well as on international and regional issues of mutual interest.”

RT also noted Xi’s assurance: “China is willing to make efforts with Russia to assume the role of great powers, and play a guiding role to inject stability and positive energy into a world rocked by social turmoil.”