They are calling themselves “good neighbors and reliable partners.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for a state visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin with the goal of strengthening their relationship amidst the war in Ukraine. It is President Xi’s first visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
President Putin spoke briefly to the press ahead of an informal meeting with Xi. “China has made a tremendous leap forward over the past 10 years, we even envy you a little bit,” he said of President Xi, adding that China takes a “fair and balanced position on the majority of international problems.”
China’s president has put together a 12-point peace plan, which according to the Carnegie Institute is a “laundry list of familiar Chinese talking points about the war” beginning with repeating “Beijing’s support for the UN Charter and the territorial integrity of states, but at the same time condemning unilateral sanctions.” It also criticizes the “expansion of U.S.-led military alliances.” The document lacks specifics on resolving “territorial disputes between Kyiv and Moscow or security guarantees for Ukraine.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for U.S. diplomats as they interact with their foreign counterparts.
- For Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek God’s wisdom in communicating with Russian and Chinese foreign ministers.
- For the president and his administration to be prudent as they determine the actions to take in addressing moves made by China and Russia.
Sources: NY Times, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
