Xi Jinping and Putin Strengthen Ties at Beijing Summit
The recent Beijing summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin produced joint declarations that deserve careful reading, according to a Freitag analysis. Contrary to Spiegel journalist Sebastian Fischer's premature conclusion that Xi has stood "unverbindlich an der Seite des Aggressors" for four years, the declarations reveal nuanced positions. Fischer had urged China to "pull the plug on Russia" before Putin's plane even landed. The analysis notes that China's 2023 twelve-point proposal to end the Ukraine conflict, which ranges from respecting territorial integrity to preventing war expansion, reflects a neutral approach. China remains Ukraine's main trading partner, a fact omitted in Fischer's account. The piece criticizes the lack of context in Spiegel's reporting on Xi's stance.
Key facts
- Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin held a summit in Beijing.
- Joint declarations were issued at the summit.
- Sebastian Fischer of Spiegel criticized Xi's support for Putin.
- Fischer called for China to cut support to Russia before Putin's arrival.
- China proposed a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine in 2023.
- China is Ukraine's main trading partner.
- The Freitag article argues the declarations show nuance, not unanimity.
- The analysis was written by Gerd Meissner for Freitag.
Entities
Institutions
- Spiegel
- Freitag
Locations
- Beijing
- China
- Russia
- Ukraine