'We are expecting you, dear friend': Vladimir Putin holds talks with Xi Jinping

Russian President Vladimir Putin invited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to visit Moscow and said it would demonstrate to the whole world the strength of Russian-Chinese ties on key issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Chinese President Xi Jinping on a state visit as the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties, military cooperation and global issues on Friday.

"We are expecting you, dear Mr Chairman, dear friend, we are expecting you next spring on a state visit to Moscow," Vladimir Putin told Xi Jinping in an eight-minute introductory statement broadcast on state television, Reuters reported.

"This will demonstrate to the whole world the strength of Russian-Chinese ties on key issues," Vladimir Putin said, adding that he aims to boost military cooperation with China.

Although the two had a "substantive and constructive" meeting, no date had yet been set for Xi's visit to Moscow, an official told Reuters.

Xi Jinping, in his statement, told Putin that China was ready to increase strategic cooperation with Russia against the backdrop of what he called a "difficult" situation in the world at large.

Till now, China has refrained from condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has been stressing the need for peace. This is in stark contrast to Russia's stand on the China-Taiwan conflict.

Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart that the road to peace talks on Ukraine would not be smooth and that China would continue to uphold its "objective and fair stance" on the issue. Xi said Beijing and Moscow should closely coordinate and cooperate in international affairs and emphasised Russia's willingness to engage in negotiations over Ukraine, a Chinese media report said.

Russia has publicly backed Xi Jinping's position on Taiwan and accused the West of trying to provoke a conflict over the status of the self-governing island, which China claims as its own.

"You and I share the same views on the causes, course and logic of the ongoing transformation of the global geopolitical landscape, in the face of unprecedented pressure and provocations from the West," Putin told Xi on Friday.

Meanwhile, the US has expressed concern over China’s alignment with Russia. “Beijing claims to be neutral, but its behaviour makes clear it is still investing in close ties to Russia,” a spokesperson said, adding that the US was “monitoring Beijing’s activity closely.”

Courtesy: India Today