Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a video call hours after Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday, pledging to take bilateral relations to “higher levels,” according to state media on both sides.
Putin described Xi as a “dear friend” and said Russia and China were building relations “on the basis of friendship, mutual trust and support” despite external pressure.
Xi called on Putin to “continue to deepen strategic coordination, enhance mutual support and protect legitimate interests.”
Trump on Tuesday He threatened to impose tariffs on BeijingHe described it as an “aggressor” and warned that a “big problem” would face Moscow if it did not reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
But Putin told Xi that any settlement in Ukraine “must respect Russian interests,” according to foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who spoke to reporters after the call.
Beijing has been accused Building a war machine in Moscow By supplying critical components of the conflict in Ukraine.
Trade between the two countries reached a record high of $240bn (£191bn) in 2023, up more than 64% since 2021 – before Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Putin and Xi stressed their readiness to build relations with the United States on the basis of mutual benefit and respect, if the Trump team shows interest,” Ushakov said.
But he also said the call was “not related to Trump's inauguration in any way.”
The call lasted about an hour and a half, during which Putin and Xi also discussed the situations in the Middle East, South Korea and Taiwan, according to Ushakov.
Chinese state media said Xi also expressed his willingness to work with Putin in response to “external suspicions,” without providing details.
Xi held a phone call with Trump last week, which the US president described as a “very good” discussion for both countries. He said they talked about trafficking, fentanyl and TikTok, among other things.
Putin has not yet spoken to Trump, but he congratulated him on state television hours before the inauguration.
