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Russian President Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping via video.
President Putin invited President Xi to Moscow next spring and suggested strengthening military cooperation, but the United States sent a warning message to China not to cross the line.
This is Beijing Correspondent Jisung Kim.
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President Putin and President Xi Jinping met via video before the end of the year.
We called each other friends.
Putin's goal is to strengthen military cooperation with China, and expressed expectations for China's military assistance in the context of the protracted war in Ukraine.
Then he invited President Xi to Moscow.
[Putin/Russian President: Dear friend, we are waiting for your state visit to Moscow next spring.]
President Xi Jinping responded by strengthening strategic cooperation.
[Xi Jinping/President of China: Faced with the international situation entangled in turmoil, China wants to strengthen strategic cooperation with Russia.]
President Xi emphasized the peace talks and China's fair position on the war in Ukraine, however, Russia's request for military assistance is far away. I put
It is interpreted as an intention to maintain close relations with Russia amidst the US-China conflict, while avoiding Western sanctions for intervening in the war in Ukraine.
The United States has expressed concerns about cooperation between China and Russia.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it "has warned of consequences for providing arms to Russia or helping Russia circumvent sanctions," and that it is "watching China closely."
The war in Ukraine, geopolitical hegemony, and fierce competition among the great powers over their own interests are expected to continue into the new year.
(Video coverage: Ma Gyu and Yu Yo, video editing: Kim Byeong-jik, CG: Eom So-min)