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In their first face-to-face meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping allegedly expressed “concerns” Thursday over the six-month war, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We understand your questions and concerns in this regard. During today’s meeting, we will obviously explain our position,” Putin said, according to Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
(Alexandr Demyanchuk, Sputnik, photo of the Kremlin pool via AP)
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While it is unclear what problems Beijing would like to face when it comes to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which it has refused to condemn or call war, Putin thanked Xi for his “balanced stance … when it comes to the Ukrainian crisis” .
The couple met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which was attended by six other nations including India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Xi and Putin reportedly targeted the United States during the day’s meeting and accused them of taking “bad” steps to maintain global dominance by helping Kiev.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photo on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
(Alexandr Demyanchuk, Sputnik, photo of the Kremlin pool via AP)
“Attempts to create a unipolar world have recently taken an absolutely ugly shape,” Putin said during his opening speech at the summit. “They are absolutely unacceptable to the vast majority of countries in the world.”
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Xi took a more delicate approach and said he was ready to “set the example of a responsible world power and play a leading role in bringing the rapidly changing world on a path of sustainable and positive development”.
Now Iran will also join the SCO and on Thursday signed a memorandum to join the expanding security body.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, meets Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, right, as he arrives at Nur-sultan Nazarbayev International Airport for a state visit on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
(Yao Dawei / Xinhua via AP)
Putin, who has looked to Tehran to supply arms as its supplies to Ukraine are dwindling, supported the move and said any remaining steps towards partnership with Iran were just a “formality”.
“We are very happy with this,” Putin said according to a Tass report. “We have done everything to make Iran a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”
