Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping says that his regime and Vladimir Putin’s Russia are working together to drive forward a “change” that hasn’t been seen on the world stage in a century.
Putin had been hosting Xi in Moscow as a guest of honor this week as the two authoritarian powers continue to commit to increasing diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation.
As Xi left the Kremlin on March 22, he turned to Putin and said with a smile: “This is exactly, right now, the change which hasn’t happened in 100 years.
“And it is we, together, who are driving these changes forward.”
Putin replied, “I agree.”
“Please take care, dear friend,” Xi said before the two shook hands.
Putin then wished Xi a safe journey and waved goodbye to the Chinese leader from the sidewalk as Xi left in his state car.
China, Russia Vow to Create New World Order
The statement comes a day after the leaders openly pledged to reshape the international order to their interests, with Putin saying that China and Russia would create a more just “multipolar world order” to replace the “rules” of the current international order.Xi’s reference to a change not seen in a century may be an allusion to the cementing of the modern rules-based international order that started to take shape after World War I, with the United States eventually emerging as a superpower.
Also around a century ago, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which now rules China as a single-party state, was founded. Years earlier, the Bolsheviks vanquished the last remnants of the White Army and solidified the Soviet Union, in which Putin would later serve as a lieutenant colonel of the military’s foreign intelligence service.
Xi and Putin first declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022, weeks before Russia launched its attempted conquest of Ukraine.
Hosting Xi this week was the grandest diplomatic gesture that Putin has conducted since that time, given Russia’s isolation on the world stage.
The agreements further buttress Beijing and Moscow’s de facto alliance, which has been growing since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. During that time, communist China has become Russia’s most important partner in trade and diplomacy, helping Moscow to carry on amid otherwise devastating international sanctions.
Putin said that Russia is willing to support Chinese companies that sought to replace Western businesses that exited the country over the war, and that the two countries should encourage businesses to use their own currencies.
Two leaders also discussed the construction of a second pipeline that could double Russia’s gas exports to China, Putin said.
Fears Mount of Chinese Support for Russian Invasion
The growing partnership between the two powers throughout the war has many national leaders on edge on concern that the Beijing regime might supply lethal aid to Russia for use in Ukraine, thereby escalating the conflict and possibly expanding the war to other nations.The White House has already acknowledged that Chinese companies have directly supported Russia’s war in Ukraine but stopped short of saying that such support amounts to lethal aid.
That same report alleged that the CCP is currently preparing a shipment of suicide drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.