Xi, Putin vow to ‘inject stability into a turbulent world’ as ‘great powers’

Xi, Putin vow to ‘inject stability into a turbulent world’ as ‘great powers’ – In a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan on Thursday, President Xi told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that “China is willing to make efforts with Russia to assume the role of great powers, and play a guiding role to inject stability and positive energy into a world rocked by social turmoil.”

He said bilateral relations should be aimed at supporting the “core interests” of one another, while deepening practical cooperation “on trade, agriculture, connectivity and other fields.”

“We are extremely willing to use this meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to exchange views with you on international and regional issues of common concern.”

Meanwhile, President Putin said “attempts to create a unipolar world have recently acquired an absolutely ugly form and are completely unacceptable,” referring to the United States’ activities.

Putin also praised the Chinese stance on Russia and reiterated Moscow’s backing for China on the issue of Taiwan.

“We highly appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends in connection with the Ukrainian crisis,” Putin told Xi, adding that his government adheres to the “principle of one China” and condemns “the provocation of the US and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait.”

It was the first in-person meeting between the two world leaders since Russia’s operation in Ukraine began on February 24.

The SCO is made up of China, Russia, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

China and Russia have come closer in their relations in recent years as part of a “no-limit” relationship acting as a counterweight to the global dominance of the US.

They have also stepped up military cooperation in recent months, with China sending hundreds of troops to take part in military exercises in Russia’s Far East.

Putin meets Raisi, say ‘our positions are close’ 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday met his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and expressed his happiness about Tehran joining the eight-member bloc.

The SCO heads of state are expected to finalize the admission of Iran and grant the status of a dialogue partner to Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Putin told Raisi that he was happy that Iran was joining the SCO.

“As we agreed with you, we have done everything for Iran to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Our partners in this organization have supported your application, all that is left is one last formality. It is indeed a formality, and Iran is joining this already serious, large, and authoritative international organization,” Russia’s state-run TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Putin also stressed that Moscow and Tehran share similar views on many international issues.

He added, “Interregional ties are developing. We actively cooperate on the international arena and on many [points] our positions are close, or, as diplomats say, coincide.”

According to Press TV, Putin also said a delegation of 80 large Russian companies are set to visit Iran next week.

Founded in 2001, the current members of the SCO are India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia being the observer countries.

The partner countries to the SCO include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka.

On Thursday, Raisi also met SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming and his counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, IRNA reported.

“Iran is a powerful, stable, and secure country in the region; and this is important for the SCO,” the SCO secretary general noted.

Ming described Iran’s membership in the organization as a move to upgrade the SCO.

Xi calls ties with Iran strategic, backs Iran’s membership in BRICS

The Chinese president on Friday praised Iran’s independent position toward international developments and called the relations between Beijing and Tehran “strategic”.

“The relations of Iran and China is strategic and will develop irrespective of any international event,” Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who has attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Xi also pointed to Iran’s important position in the region and the larger world and said, “China supports the membership of Iran in BRICS.”

BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Xi also invited Raisi to visit China.

The presidents of Iran and China also held talks on promoting economic cooperation and made decisions in this regard.

President Raisi also lauded China’s constructive approach in the process of Iran’s membership in the SCO and thanked Beijing for backing Iran to join BRICS.

In his meeting with the Chinese leader, Raisi also said despite all hostilities by certain countries Iran’s move toward progress “has never” and “will never” been stopped and that the Islamic Republic will continue its path toward economic development.

Raisi also said the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China shows that the two countries are firm to develop ties in all areas.

Existing potentials in the fields of oil and energy, transit, agriculture, commerce, and investment have created a very good situation for deepening economic ties between Iran and China, Raisi stated.

The president also criticized the U.S. and the European troika (Britain, France and Germany) for failing to honor their commitments in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Raisi added, “Iran will never back down in the face of U.S. blackmailing.”

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