China and Russia Leaders: "Maintaining Peace on Korean Peninsula Is in Common Interest... Oppose Sanctions Against North Korea"

North Korea's Denuclearization Not Mentioned

China and Russia emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula during their summit, while also expressing their opposition to sanctions and pressure against North Korea.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on May 21, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit the previous day at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. After the meeting, the two leaders issued a joint statement on "Further Comprehensive Strategic Coordination and Deepening Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation," outlining their stance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

In the joint statement, President Xi and President Putin highly valued the communication and cooperation between their countries regarding the Korean Peninsula issue, stating, "Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promoting a political resolution to the relevant regional problems are in the common interests of all countries in Northeast Asia and the international community."

The two countries stressed their opposition to threatening North Korea's security through means such as diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions, or military pressure. They also called on relevant countries to refrain from escalating regional tensions, provoking an arms race, and abusing politicized measures. They insisted that practical steps must be taken to eliminate the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula.

China and Russia stated that, based on geopolitical realities, they support each country addressing its concerns in a balanced manner through political and diplomatic means, grounded in mutual respect for sovereignty. The two countries added that they will continue close communication and cooperation, play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue, the establishment of a peace regime, and the long-term stability of Northeast Asia.

However, the latest China-Russia joint statement did not mention North Korea's denuclearization. Previously, following a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Xi in Beijing, a fact sheet released by the White House had noted that the two leaders reaffirmed their "shared goal" of North Korea's denuclearization.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that President Xi may pay a state visit to North Korea as early as next week. On this day, TIME magazine in the United States, citing anonymous sources, reported that President Xi is scheduled to make a state visit to North Korea as early as next week.

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