Xi Jinping and Putin to Hold Video Summit on the 15th... Discuss Strategic Coordination Against the US (Update)

by Kim Yuri

Published 13 Dec.2021 16:28(KST)

Updated 10 Mar.2023 12:29(KST)

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[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a video conference on the 15th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 13th.

The dialogue between the two leaders comes about three and a half months after their phone call on August 25. President Xi and President Putin are expected to discuss strategic cooperation between the two countries in response to the United States. They are also anticipated to confirm their positions on international issues such as Iran's nuclear program and North Korea's nuclear issue.

In their previous communication, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and coordinated response measures. They agreed on the importance of maintaining timely communication on bilateral and multilateral issues and decided to keep close exchanges through various means.

Amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the Russia-Ukraine border region, the West, led by the United States, is increasing pressure on China and Russia. In his opening remarks at the Democracy Summit held on the 9th and 10th, which invited over 110 countries worldwide, U.S. President Joe Biden stated, "External dictators seek to expand their influence globally to strengthen their power and justify oppressive policies," and in his closing speech, he emphasized, "Dictatorship can never extinguish the flame of freedom burning in the hearts of people worldwide." These remarks were interpreted as targeting China and Russia.

The Group of Seven (G7: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Italy) expressed concerns about "China's coercive economic policies" in a chair statement issued by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting held in Liverpool, UK, on the 12th. The G7 and European Union (EU) foreign ministers stated in a joint declaration, "Russia must not doubt that if it launches additional military attacks on Ukraine, it will face tremendous consequences and severe costs."