Putin in Beijing: Russia and China agree to deepen "strategic partnership"

Putin, who arrived in China on Thursday for his first state visit after being sworn in for a record fifth term as Russia's president earlier this month, and Xi outlined their positions on almost every front, from economy and defense space, Ukraine and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). "The parties reiterate their serious concern over the efforts of the United States to upset the strategic balance of security in the region," said a 7,000-word joint statement on "the deepening of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation entering a new era." China, a major market for the Russian military, and Russia have significantly strengthened their economic cooperation and diplomatic ties in recent years, with their strategic partnership growing even more after the conflict in Ukraine. "This partnership is undoubtedly exemplary of how relations between neighboring countries should be," Putin said on the first day of his two-day visit to China. "Our cooperation in global affairs today is one of the main stabilizing factors in the global arena," he added. The Chinese president, for his part, said that his country is ready to work with Russia to "maintain justice in the world". "The China-Russia relationship today is hard-won, and both sides should value and nurture it," Xi stressed. Russia and China declared a "borderless" partnership in February 2022, when Putin visited Beijing just days before Moscow launched its military campaign in neighboring Ukraine. Trade between the two sides reached a record $240 billion last year, with Chinese companies increasing investment as Western firms pulled out of Russia following the imposition of sanctions against Moscow.