Putin Meets Xi Jinping, Welcomes China's Plan For Settlement of 'Acute Crisis' In Ukraine: Report
Russia has said China's 12-point peace plan would be discussed in talks between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed China's plan for "settlement of the acute crisis in Ukraine" as he held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on Monday. In opening remarks, Putin said China had made a "colossal leap forward" in the last few years.
"In the last few years, China has made a colossal leap forward. In the whole world, this evokes interest, and unfortunately even envy," Putin told Xi, CNN reported.
"Symbolically, we met here 10 years during your first visit as an elected representative of China. In this time, we made progress in relations. We have many common interests and goals," Putin further said.
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The Russian leader also told Xi that the Kremlim had "familiarised" itself with Beijing's suggestions on the crisis in Ukraine.
"You know, that we are always ready for negotiating, and we will discuss all those questions including your suggestions," CNN quoted Putin as saying.
The Ukraine war will be a key point of discussion during Xi's three-day visit to Moscow and the Kremlin has said China's peace plan would be discussed in talks between Putin and Xi, AFP reported.
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China's plan calls for a ceasefire followed by peace talks and respect for national sovereignty but the 12-point document, released on the first anniversary of the war, does not specifically say that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
Upon his arrival in Moscow, Jinping described China and Russia as "reliable partners", AFP reported. This is Jinping's first visit to Russia ever since Putin invaded Ukraine last year.
"I am confident the visit will be fruitful and give new momentum to the healthy and stable development of Chinese-Russian relations," Xi was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"China is ready to stand with Russia to protect the UN-centric international system and the world order based on international law," Jinping, who was recently handed an unprecedented third term as president, said.
China and Russia have described Jinping's trip as part of efforts to further deepen their "no-limits friendship".
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