Joint Statement by China and Russia Amid Ukraine Crisis: "Stop NATO Expansion"

Putin Arrives in Beijing on the 4th for Summit Meeting with Xi Jinping

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] China and Russia issued a joint statement urging the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to halt its expansion. Amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis, the two countries appear to be forming a united front.

On the 4th (local time), according to Russia's TASS news agency and others, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing, China, where the Winter Olympics are being held, and held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the meeting, the two countries released the joint statement.

In the joint statement posted on the Kremlin's official website, the two countries emphasized, "We oppose further NATO expansion and call for abandoning Cold War-era ideological approaches, respecting the sovereignty, security, interests, and cultural diversity of other countries." The demand to halt NATO's eastward expansion has been a key point Russia has insisted on with the U.S. and Western bloc regarding the Ukraine situation.

Additionally, the two countries stated, "We oppose the formation of exclusive blocs in the Asia-Pacific region" and "We are continuously striving to establish an equal, open, and inclusive security system in the region." This is also interpreted as a reference to recent security alliances led by the U.S., such as AUKUS (the security alliance among the U.S., the U.K., and Australia).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.