MOSCOW — Russia and China showcased their “no-limit friendship” on Tuesday throughout a pomp-laden Kremlin ceremony supposed to additional cement ties amid the preventing in Ukraine.
After internet hosting Chinese language chief Xi Jinping over a seven-course non-public dinner for 4½ hours the earlier night time, Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted him within the previous imperial palace for talks involving high officers from each international locations.
Xi walked slowly up the opulent red-carpeted staircase of the Grand Kremlin Palace as guards in nineteenth century-style parade uniforms snapped at consideration.
Putin was ready to greet the Chinese language chief in St. George’s corridor the place partitions are lined by white-marble plaques with gold engravings of the names of army models and troopers awarded with the order of St. George, a high army award established by Catherine the Nice.
In a tightly choreographed ceremony full of imperial grandeur, the 2 leaders entered the large chandeliered room from reverse sides and shook palms within the center to the tune of the Russian and Chinese language nationwide anthems.
They walked previous a lineup of Russian and Chinese language officers to take a seat down for talks. Putin and Xi each wore black fits and darkish purple ties.
The pageantry mirrored the significance of Xi’s three-day go to to Russia that gave a robust political increase to Putin simply days after the Worldwide Felony Court docket issued an arrest warrant for the Russian chief on costs of alleged involvement in abductions of hundreds of youngsters from Ukraine.
Moscow, which doesn’t acknowledge the court docket’s jurisdiction, dismissed the transfer as “legally null and void,” however it additional ramped up the stress on the Russian chief because the preventing in Ukraine has dragged right into a second yr.
After the talks, Putin and Xi issued joint declarations pledging to additional bolster their “strategic cooperation,” develop cooperation in vitality, high-tech industries and different spheres and develop using their currencies in mutual commerce to cut back dependence on the West.
They stated they might develop army cooperation and conduct extra joint sea and air patrols, however there was no point out of any potential Chinese language weapons provides to Russia that the U.S. and different Western allies feared.
Putin and Xi made lengthy statements after the talks to a particular viewers of officers and reporters from their swimming pools. They did not take questions.
Putin hailed China’s proposals for a political settlement and a cease-fire in Ukraine, saying that it might function a foundation for a peaceable settlement “as soon as the West and Kyiv are prepared for it.” The U.S. has criticized Beijing’s plan as a transfer supposed to permit Russia to shore up its positive aspects.
Previous to attending the Kremlin talks, Xi met with Russian Prime Minister Milkhail Mishustin. Not like them, Russian and Chinese language officers who attended the talks wore medical masks — a reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic that halted mutual visits.
Xi briefly referred to it, telling Mishustin he was completely satisfied to be again in Moscow after an extended break due to the pandemic. He stated that he invited Putin over Monday’s dinner to go to China later this yr to attend a top-level assembly of China’s Belt and Street regional initiative.
Xi stayed at a brand-new Chinese language-owned Soluxe Lodge set in a lavish riverside park in central Moscow that options bushes and crops from throughout China. Social networks He used a Chinese language-made Hongqi limousine for driving round Moscow.