Rare Sino-Russian differences come to fore during Putin-Xi meet

Sino-Russian differences have come to the fore as Russian President Vladimir Putin in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Samarkand noted that Russia understood China’s concerns over economic fallout of the Ukraine war.

The two leaders exchanged warm words in their opening remarks, with Xi calling Putin an “old friend” and Putin thanking the Chinese leader for his “balanced” stance on the Ukraine invasion.

China’s concerns are due to the economic fallout from the war at a time when it has ratcheted tensions with the West over Taiwan.

India is emerging as a key recipient of Russian energy resources as well as other critical commodities including coal, fertilises, coking coal and diamond, and has major plans to increase footprints in Russian Far East and Arctic. Moscow also wants New Delhi to increase its presence in Central Asia as a balancing power, experts said.