BEIJING – With the West trying to bully Russia with sanctions, Russia and China warmed up to each other backing their respective stance on issues like cyber espionage, the Ukraine crisis and maritime territorial row, as their navies began week-long joint exercises.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in China today in his first visit since President Xi Jinping took office last year, is under fire from the US and other western countries over Moscow’s handling of the Ukraine crisis.
The two leaders held talks and promised to strengthen ties in the face of international criticism over their territorial disputes.
Putin arrived in Shanghai to take part in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in which 11 heads of state and officials from 40 countries, including India, would participate.
After the meeting between Xi and Putin, the two leaders issued a joint statement expressing “grave concern” over the political crisis in Ukraine.
The two sides urged all parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid escalating the conflict and seek a peaceful and political settlement for the current problems, the statement said.
China has taken an ambivalent stand on the Ukraine crisis and called for a political solution.
Similarly, Russia, which provided asylum to American whistle-blower Edward Snowden after he came out with damning revelations over US cyber espionage, shared concern with China over the use of information technology that is detrimental to sovereignty and privacy.
