Sino-Russian relations at an all-time high, according to Putin's assertion
In a series of significant meetings, world leaders gathered in Beijing this week for various diplomatic talks and celebratory events.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held discussions, with Putin praising the current relationship between their nations as being at an "unprecedented level." Xi, in turn, acknowledged that China-Russia relations have withstood the test of international changes. The two leaders also expressed a shared willingness to work together to "promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system."
During the summit on Monday, Xi and Putin criticized Western governments, with Xi referring to "bullying behavior" from certain countries and Putin defending Russia's Ukraine offensive. No specific agreements or decisions were mentioned to have been made during these meetings.
Meanwhile, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has been critical of the EU's support for Ukraine and efforts to cut energy imports from Russia, met with Putin. Fico was praised for Slovakia's independent foreign policy. However, no specific agreements or decisions were reported to have been made during their discussions.
Another notable figure attending the events was North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who undertook his first official trip outside North Korea since 2019. Kim attended a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II, where he was expected to meet with China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin for diplomatic talks. The exact details of these talks are not further detailed in this paragraph.
Kim Jong-un is also expected to hold summits with both Putin and Xi, according to South Korean sources. The military parade in China will be attended by about two dozen world leaders, including Kim Jong-un.
In addition, Xi Jinping attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin this week. The meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took place as Iran faces the reimposition of European sanctions over its nuclear program. The talks between Putin, Xi, and Pezeshkian are not further detailed in this paragraph.
Slovakia, heavily reliant on Russian gas, finds itself in a delicate position amidst these geopolitical shifts. Fico has irked European leaders by his criticisms of the EU's support for Ukraine and his pushback against efforts to cut energy imports from Russia.
As these global events unfold, the implications for international relations and global governance remain to be seen.
