‘Any season is springtime in Russia-China relations’: Putin and Xi hold video call

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call on Wednesday to discuss economic cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, their relations with the US as well as bilateral ties, Euronews writes.

The call between the two allies came just before President Xi held a wide-ranging phone call with US President Donald Trump.

“I would like to once again assure you of firm support for our shared efforts to ensure the sovereignty and security of our countries, our socio-economic welfare and the right to choose our own development path,” Putin said in opening remarks.

“Amid the growing global turbulence, the foreign policy link between Moscow and Beijing has remained a major stabilising factor,” said Putin.

Xi said, in turn, that the two countries need to “use a historic opportunity to continue deepening strategic cooperation.”

With Wednesday marking the first day of Spring, according to the Chinese calendar, the Chinese leader said he would like to work on establishing a “new blueprint for China-Russia relations” with his Russian counterpart, on a day that symbolizes new beginnings.

“Any season is springtime in Russia-China relations,” responded Putin.

The video call took place against the backdrop of Western leaders’ efforts to improve relations with China, despite ongoing disagreements over the conflict in Ukraine. European leaders have long pressured China to stop supporting Russia, but now, due to disagreements with US President Donald Trump, many of the United States’ closest Western partners are seeking to deepen ties with China.