BEIJING - Beijing and Moscow have called for Nato to halt its expansion, saying in a joint statement that the United States-led military alliance should “abandon its ideologised cold war approaches”. The statement, issued after a meeting on Friday (Feb 4) in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, criticised the US for its “negative impact” on regional peace and security.
It also said the two countries were seriously concerned with the Aukus defence alliance that includes Australia, Britain and the US, especially their cooperation on nuclear submarines.
The statement and the meeting between the two leaders are a strong show of solidarity, as both their countries grapple with increasing tensions with the West over the Ukraine crisis and other issues.
The Chinese foreign ministry said that the talks were “in-depth and substantive”, and the atmosphere was “warm and friendly”.
In televised opening remarks to his host, Mr Putin hailed Moscow’s close relationship with Beijing, calling it a “strategic partnership of unprecedented character”.
Mr Xi said both sides should “strongly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, security and development interests, in order to effectively respond to external interference and regional security threats, and maintain international strategic stability”, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry.
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