2022-12-21T09:06:15Z
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has undertaken a surprise trip to Beijing and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during which he said they discussed the Ukraine conflict.
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, posted a video on his Telegram channel showing him meeting Xi, smiling for photos and a meeting between Chinese and Russian officials.
Medvedev said he and Xi had discussed the two countries’ “no limits” strategic partnership, as well as Ukraine. He did not provide further details.
“We discussed cooperation between the two ruling parties of China and Russia … bilateral cooperation within our strategic partnership, including on the economy and industrial production. We also discussed international issues – including, of course, the conflict in Ukraine,” Medvedev said.
“The talks were useful,” he added.
Russia accelerated its pivot towards Beijing after it was hit with a slew of Western sanctions to punish it for its February invasion of Ukraine, something Moscow calls “a special military operation.”
Russia is seeking to foster closer economic, political and security ties with China to offset its loss of comparable Western ties and sees Xi as a potential ally in an anti-Western coalition.
Related Galleries:
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS
Members of the Russian delegation, led by Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, attend a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Delegation members, led by China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, attend a meeting in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS
Delegation members, led by China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, attend a meeting in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting in Beijing, China, December 21, 2022. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, delivers a speech during a ceremony marking Shipbuilder’s Day in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 29, 2022. Sputnik/Valentin Yegorshin/Pool via REUTERS/Files
