SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin met Thursday to discuss strengthening ties between their countries, a meeting that follows Moscow’s first setback on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The two leaders met in Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a security alliance created to counter U. S. influence that India, Pakistan and four ex-Soviet countries also have in Central Asia.
Alongside Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the backdrop to the summit is the brief outbreak not far from the reason for hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as tensions in China’s relations with Washington, Europe, Japan and India due to disputes over technology, security and territory.
Speaking at the start of his one-on-one talks with Xi, Putin criticized what he described as an “ugly” effort by the United States and its allies to achieve their perceived global dominance.
“Attempts to create a unipolar world have recently taken a safe form. They are surely unacceptable to the vast majority of the world’s countries,” Putin said in his opening speech.
Xi was more cautious, saying that in combination with Russia, China is in a position to “set the example of a guilty global force and play a leading role in leading world conversion on the path of sustainable and positive development. “
The SCO summit in the ancient city of Samarkand is part of Xi’s first abroad since the coronavirus pandemic began two and a half years ago, underscoring Beijing’s willingness to assert itself as a regional power.
The assembly of presidents arrived here after Russia was forced to withdraw its forces from large swathes of northeastern Ukraine last week amid a swift Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine’s recapture of several Russian-occupied villages and cities represented the biggest setback for Moscow since its forces had to withdraw from spaces. near the Ukrainian capital at the beginning of the war.
Xi’s government, which said it had an “unlimited” friendship with Moscow before the invasion of Ukraine last February, refused to criticize the actions of Russia’s military. Beijing and India are buying more Russian oil and gas, which is helping Moscow offset the effect of Western sanctions imposed during the invasion.
“We very much appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends in the context of the Ukraine crisis,” Putin said at the start of his talks with Xi.
Russia, in turn, has strongly supported China amid tensions with the United States that followed a recent visit to Taiwan through U. S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“We condemn the provocations of the United States and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait,” Putin Xi said.
Putin also met Thursday with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose country is on track to enroll in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Raisi said Moscow and Tehran were finalizing a primary treaty that would take their relations to a “strategic level. “
Both he and Putin criticized the United States at the beginning of their meeting. Raisi accused the United States of violating its obligations under Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers. Putin mocked U. S. officials, saying, “They are masters of their word: give it and take it back if you want. “
The Russian leader also met with Central Asian leaders and planned to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
There is no indication whether Modi might meet Xi. Relations between India and China are strained due to clashes between infantrymen from countries in a border dispute involving a remote region of the Himalayas.
Putin is also scheduled to meet personally with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Turkey and Azerbaijan have the status of “dialogue partners” with the SCO.
Earlier this week, Azerbaijan and Armenia engaged in a cross-border bombardment that killed 176 infantrymen on both sides, marking the most serious hostilities in just two years between decades-long adversaries. The fighting has put Moscow, which has tried to strengthen ties with the two countries, in a precarious position.
Putin’s meeting with Erdogan will be closely watched for his statements on Ukraine and a July agreement negotiated through Turkey and the UN to raid exports of grain and other agricultural products blocked in Ukrainian Black Sea ports after the Russian invasion.
The Chinese leader is selling a “Global Security Initiative” announced in April following the formation of the Quad across Washington, Japan, Australia and India in reaction to Beijing’s more assertive foreign policy. Xi gave few details, but U. S. officials say he echoes Russian arguments. by Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.
The region is part of China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative to expand the industry through the construction of ports, railways and other infrastructure in an arc of dozens of countries from the South Pacific to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
On Thursday, Xi Jinping met with President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan and Beijing supports the “early operation” of a railway assignment linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, China’s Foreign Ministry said.
China’s economic advances in Central Asia have fueled unease in Russia, which sees the region as its sphere of influence.
Xi made a one-day stop in Kazakhstan en route to Uzbekistan on Wednesday. Pope Francis in Kazakhstan, but they did not meet.