Russian and Chinese heads of state meet for the start of the war in Ukraine for the start. The summit takes place in Samarcande, in a central Asia which is concerned about a rise in power of Russian imperialism.
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For his first visit abroad since January 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping has chosen to go to Central Asia. First in Kazakhstan – where he had launched the major “silk road infrastructure” project in 2013 – then in Uzbekistan where he participated on September 15 and 16 in a Shanghai cooperation organization summit (OCS), in Samarcande. He should meet on Thursday, according to the Kremlin, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
The two leaders have called themselves but have not met since the launch of the Russian “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24. But, a few days earlier, on February 4, they had signed an important strategic agreement insisting on “limitless” cooperation between their two countries. It is unknown if Vladimir Putin had then discussed with Xi Jinping of his intention to invade Ukraine. “When Russia sparked the war against Ukraine, it did not take into account the interests or the reactions of Beijing, any more than other countries, and therefore has not based its actions on the support of Some or others, “says Temur Umarov, specialist in Sino-Russian relations and Central Asia at the Carnegie Foundation in Moscow.
Today, Vladimir Putin expects his Chinese counterpart not so much support in acts as in speech. “Russia is trying to push China to settle in a speech of confrontation against the West (…). What Putin expects from the Samarcande summit is a more frank support in the rhetoric of Beijing against hegemony Global United States, “continues the analyst. 2>
” friendly “and” normal “relations with Moscow”
Since February 24, China has shared the reading of the conflict that Moscow promotes, consisting in arguing that the origin of the conflict comes from the extension of NATO in Central Europe. However, if Beijing condemns Western sanctions, she does not violate them. In an editorial published on September 14, the Chinese daily Global Times explains that “China has never been involved in the Russian-Ukraine conflict”, which it has “always been in favor of respect for sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all countries “, writes this newspaper reflecting the position of the party.
In China Daily, an official organ of the Chinese Communist Party in the English language, Xu Wenrong, member of the Academy of Sciences, insists, Thursday, on the “neutrality” of China and affirms that Beijing “expresses his sympathy for The victims of the conflict and provided material aid to Ukraine to help overcome the crisis it faces. ” The author recalls however the importance for Beijing to have good relations with Russia, a neighbor with whom China shares 4,300 kilometers of borders and evokes relationships certainly “friendly” but also “normal” with Moscow, far from all lyrical flight.
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