19 May 2024

Putin Casts Russia and China as Defenders of Stability

Austin Ramzy

Russian President Vladimir Putin portrayed himself and Chinese leader Xi Jinping as defenders of global stability and equality between nations as the two met during a summit focused on resisting Western pressure in Beijing on Thursday.

“Our cooperation in world affairs today is one of the main stabilizing factors in the international arena,” Putin said as he and Xi spoke in front of reporters ahead of talks. “Together we uphold the principles of justice and a democratic world order reflecting the multipolar realities founded in international law.”

The two-day visit is Putin’s first trip abroad since he secured a rubber-stamp election victory in March. The Russian leader is seeking more of the Chinese support that has helped Russia resist Western efforts to isolate the country after it invaded Ukraine in 2022. The visit also gives him an opportunity to demonstrate to the Russian public that he still has powerful friends—a message often stressed by state media.

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