Ria Novosti's China Summit Day One Report

There’s a host of items to post related to the Putin/Xi summit that I’ll be providing, but I want to get this fine recap of the day one events by Russian media to readers. The article’s title isn’t just related to Ukraine,

"Eliminate the root cause". Putin and Xi voiced a recipe for Ukraine

There’re very few references to the Outlaw US Empire that I’ve seen but there’s clear understanding as to what entity is being referred to. And as with the Problem Tree, you solve it by digging it up by the roots, not by pruning its limbs. For me, the phrase has a very explicit meaning relative to policy goals. That will become clearer as what occurred at the Summit becomes known. So, lets get with it and read the recap:

The first day of the state visit of the President of Russia has ended in China. Putin's first foreign trip since his inauguration has attracted the attention of the whole world. Both the Russian leader and President Xi Jinping confirmed the alarming forecasts for the West - the partnership between Moscow and Beijing is stronger than ever.

With all honors

The presidential plane arrived in Beijing at five in the morning local time. During the visit, Putin is accompanied by a representative delegation of deputy prime ministers, heads of key departments, other politicians and officials.

Before the start of the talks, the ceremony of an official meeting between the president and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place, during which the leaders of the countries introduced the members of their delegations. The visit has the highest status - state. Therefore, they received guests with all the honors due according to the protocol.

A personal conversation between Putin and Xi, who invariably use the address "dear friend", took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This is a proven negotiation scheme: during the visit of the Chinese leader to Moscow in March 2023 (this was also the first foreign trip after re-election), he also talked with Putin face to face.

After a tete-a-tete conversation, consultations continued in an expanded format. They discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation, exchanged views on topical international and regional problems - "compared notes", as they say in the Kremlin.

The matter was not limited to talks. As a result, Putin and Xi signed the "Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on Deepening Relations of Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation, Entering a New Era, in the Context of the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Two Countries."

More than a dozen documents

The document includes ten sections, covering all kinds of areas: from combating negative climate change to compliance with international law.

A separate part is devoted to the Ukrainian crisis. It is no secret that Beijing, which has experience in mediating peace negotiations, as it was, for example, with Saudi Arabia and Iran, closely follows the hostilities in Eastern Europe. And he even proposed his own plan.

"The parties note the need to stop any steps that contribute to the prolongation of hostilities and further escalation of the conflict, call for preventing its transition to an uncontrolled phase, emphasize the importance of dialogue as the best form of resolving the Ukrainian crisis," the statement signed by Putin and Xi says. "The parties proceed from the fact that for a sustainable settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, it is necessary to eliminate its root causes and adhere to the principle of indivisibility of security, take into account the legitimate interests and concerns of all countries in the field of security."

In addition to the main document, in the presence of the heads of the two states, a package of ten more documents was signed, regulating cooperation at the media level, holding "cross years" of culture, economic issues and much more.

Exemplary partnership

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Xi described them as "frank, friendly and substantive."

"China and Russia have shown others an example of building a new type of interstate relations and relations between major neighbors," the chairman said.

All this, he said, was made possible by the fact that both sides are committed to five principles. The first is firm support for each other on issues related to the fundamental interests of both sides. The second is the formation of a new architecture of mutually beneficial cooperation. Thirdly, the countries remember the centuries-old friendship, passing its "torch" through generations. Fourth, China and Russia firmly defend the UN-centric system and the world order based on international law. And finally, Moscow and Beijing are "promoting a political settlement of hot spot problems for the sake of truth and justice": "In today's world, the Cold War mentality is still rampant. Unilateral hegemony, bloc confrontation and power politics directly threaten world peace."

Putin, in turn, stressed that "the talks have shown the great importance that both Moscow and Beijing attach to the development and strengthening of the Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation." "This partnership serves as a model of how relations between neighboring states should be built," the Russian leader said.

Traditionally, the president did not forget about quantitative indicators. In 2023, trade between the countries added a quarter, setting a new record of $240 billion. Investment cooperation is actively developing: more than 80 priority projects worth about $200 billion are being implemented or are being prepared for implementation through the relevant intergovernmental commission.

The share of the ruble and yuan in Russian-Chinese commercial transactions already exceeds 90 percent: "This figure continues to grow, trade and investment are reliably protected from the influence of third countries and negative trends in world currency markets," Putin said.

In the energy sector, Russian-Chinese cooperation is not limited to hydrocarbons only, but cooperation in the field of "peaceful atom" is strengthening. Russia is building power units at the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the Xudapu nuclear power plant on the territory of the PRC. The countries are developing international transport and logistics corridors, using the potential of the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur railways, the Northern Sea Route.

Both states pursue an independent and independent foreign policy. "We are working in solidarity to form a more just and democratic multipolar world order, which should be based on the central role of the UN and its Security Council, international law, cultural and civilizational diversity, and a verified balance of interests of all participants in the world community," the president recalled. Russia and China are fruitfully cooperating in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, making efforts to align integration processes within the EAEU and China's Belt and Road Initiative in order to form a Greater Eurasian Partnership.

"We consider it necessary to work towards building a reliable and adequate architecture and security in the Asia-Pacific region, in which there is no place for closed military-political alliances. We believe that the creation of such alliances is very harmful and counterproductive," Putin stressed. He, however, did not directly name the aggressive blocs that the United States is putting together in the region.

The President also reiterated his gratitude to China for its constructive approach to the Ukrainian crisis. After that, Putin met with Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang.

In the evening, the President of Russia and the Chinese leader talked in an informal setting. According to Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, the conversation went very well, "some foreign policy topics were discussed, among other things."

But the program did not end there. Tomorrow, the Russian guests will visit Harbin, where the opening of the VIII Russian-Chinese EXPO and the IV Forum of the Regions of the two countries will take place. [My Emphasis]

As noted, no direct references were made to the Outlaw US Empire or any of its other monikers. The Joint Declaration reiterates many previous points and adds new ones—it’s been modernized to invoke a key Xi term. Most of the above was said when the two leaders addressed the press but took no questions. Readers ought to have noted the huge difference in receptions between how the Russian delegation was greeted and those by Westerners, particularly Yellen and Blinken. Looking closely at the photo reveals the top Russian officials. Many sideline meetings were held that will build on future agreements. Many including myself are somewhat excited at what Putin might say at Harbin tomorrow. My bet is they take one of China’s High Speed Trains and continue talks during the 5 hour trip. I’ll provide the remarks given to the press next.

*
*
*
Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a monthly/yearly pledge to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!