Moscow-Beijing alliance hits 'unprecedented level' as Putin and Xi push for multipolar world order
Beijing, May 20
In a powerful display of strategic alignment, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling global hegemonism and building a "multipolar world."
During high-level talks in Beijing, both leaders emphasised that the comprehensive partnership between their nations has reached an unprecedented peak, serving as a model for modern interstate relations.
The high-stakes summit comes at a time of deep geopolitical shifts and arrives just days after US President Donald Trump's official visit to the Chinese capital.
Celebrating a quarter-century of rapidly expanding ties, President Putin highlighted the deep-rooted collaboration that has come to define the Moscow-Beijing axis, Sputnik reported.
"Russia-China cooperation has expanded greatly over 25 years. Our two countries maintain close contacts and actively work on mutual projects and initiatives," Putin stated, adding that the ultimate goal of this synergy remains the "well-being and prosperity of the Russian and Chinese peoples."
A cornerstone of this expanding influence is the BRICS bloc, of which Russia, China, and India are founding members. The coalition has grown exponentially, now accounting for over 50% of the global population and 40% of global GDP.
Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed Putin's sentiments, calling for a higher quality of strategic coordination to counter a turbulent global landscape marked by a resurgence of "unilateralism and hegemonism," reported Xinhua.
In a significant diplomatic move, Xi agreed to extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, praising its enduring relevance.
"Today, the international landscape is undergoing momentous changes, and the world risks returning to the law of the jungle," Xi warned. "As permanent members of the UN Security Council and important major countries in the world, China and Russia should take a strategic and long-term perspective... and work to make the global governance system more just and reasonable."
Beyond bilateral ties, the leaders addressed pressing global flashpoints. President Xi issued a stark warning regarding the escalating tensions in West Asia, noting that the Gulf region stands at a critical juncture between war and peace. He called for an immediate end to all hostilities in the region, urging diplomatic resolution over military conflict.
According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, this trip marks Putin's 25th official visit to China. The ministry emphasised the profound strategic alignment and the deep personal rapport between the two leaders, who have met dozens of times since Xi assumed office in 2012 and routinely refer to each other as "dear friends."
Moving forward, the comprehensive itinerary will see both sides engage in extensive deliberations covering multi-sectoral economic cooperation, bilateral ties, and shared regional security concerns.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, it's good to see the world moving away from US-led unipolarity. The Global South needs a voice. But India must be careful - we share a long border with China. Our interests and China's don't always align, especially on border issues.
Putin and Xi calling each other "dear friends" while India watches from the sidelines. 🤔 We should strengthen our ties with Russia too, but not at the cost of our border security with China. Balance is key!
Multipolar world sounds great in theory. But let's not forget - China and Russia have their own agendas. For India, our priority should be our own development and national security. BRICS is useful, but we shouldn't tie ourselves too closely to any one bloc.
Interesting times! The article mentions US President Trump's visit to Beijing just days before Putin's. Classic great power diplomacy. India should leverage this multipolar moment to get better deals on trade, technology, and energy security.
While Russia-China friendship is understandable, I'm concerned about the implications for India. China has been aggressive along the LAC. We should maintain our time-tested ties with Russia but also urgently strengthen QUAD and our own defence capabilities. Yaar, this is complex geopolitics!
S Sarah B