China, a key ally of Russia, expressed its congratulations to President Vladimir Putin for winning the election on Monday.
According to state news agency RIA, with 99 percent of polling stations reporting, Putin had received 87.33 percent of all votes cast in the official election data on Monday.
When asked about the poll at a regular press conference, foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, said, “China expresses its congratulations on this.”
He added, “China and Russia are each other’s largest neighbors and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners in the new era.”
It was a historic victory for Putin in a presidential election where he faced no true competition.
Lin stated, “We firmly believe that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations will continue to move forward,” and mentioned that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.
Russian state news agency TASS reported that Putin praised Beijing, saying, “I am sure that in the coming years, we will only strengthen and build up our relations and achieve common successes for the benefit of the Chinese and Russian peoples.”
“The most important thing is the coincidence of state interests. This creates a very good tone for solving common problems in the field of international relations,” Putin was reported as saying.
“The structure of China’s economy is changing towards innovation,” he added. “We face exactly the same tasks in Russia.”
– Socialist allies –
Once socialist allies, China and Russia had a difficult relationship in the later decades of the last century, but have become closer recently as their growing friendship represents a defense against the US-led West.
Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine causing tension with Western nations, China has strengthened its ties with Russia and refused to condemn its ally’s attack on Ukraine.
Western countries argue that China’s hesitation has given Putin much-needed political and diplomatic support to launch an unprovoked war on Kyiv.
“I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust,” Putin said in a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Moscow hours after the polls closed early Monday morning. news conference at his campaign headquarters in Moscow hours after polls closed.
– ‘Best friend’ Putin –
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately confirm whether President Xi Jinping, who has previously called Putin his “best friend”, had personally congratulated the Russian leader.
Both leaders have praised the strength of their personal friendship, having both reshaped their respective countries during lengthy tenures at the helm.
Xi welcomed his “dear friend” Putin to Beijing last October, where the Russian president was the guest of honor at a multilateral summit.
The Chinese leader stated that “political mutual trust between the two countries is continuously deepening”, praising their “close and effective strategic coordination”.
Xi mentioned that he had seen Putin 42 times in the last ten years, stating that they had built a strong professional connection and a close friendship.
AFP
