Published 15 days ago

Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi emphasize close relations, a day after Trump is sworn in as president

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call, pledging to enhance bilateral ties, which lasted about one-and-a-half hours.
Trade between China and Russia reached a record $240 billion in 2023, increasing by more than 64% since 2021, according to state media.
Putin stated that any Ukraine settlement must respect Russian interests, while Xi expressed readiness to work with Putin amid external uncertainties.
Both leaders confirmed a desire to build relations with the US on a mutually beneficial basis if the Trump administration shows interest.