Chinese leader Xi Jinping has sent a clear message to his counterpart Vladimir Putin that China-Russia relations will not be shaken by Washington’s warming ties with Moscow. In their first phone call since US President Donald Trump’s shift in foreign policy, Xi reiterated that Beijing and Moscow are “good neighbors who cannot be moved away” and true friends who share weal and woe. The two leaders emphasized the importance of their long-term cooperation strategy, which is not subject to external influence.
The call comes as Russia seeks to boost its international standing after months of efforts by Trump to normalize relations with Moscow. However, China has emerged as a key diplomatic and economic backer of Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Beijing defends its trade practices, accusing US accusations of powering Russia’s defense industrial base with dual-use goods.
The two leaders also discussed the possibility of reducing defense spending, which could include cutting by 50%. Putin claimed that he was open to discussing such a proposal with Trump. Despite this, Chinese officials have signaled support for peace talks but emphasized the need for all parties to be involved.
The relationship between China and Russia has long been seen as a shared power struggle with the West. However, recent US efforts have raised questions about whether Washington could drive a wedge between the two strongmen. With tensions in Ukraine remaining high, Beijing and Moscow appear to be strengthening their alliance in an effort to counterbalance US influence.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/china/china-xi-putin-call-trump-pivot-russia-intl-hnk/index.html