Putin congratulates Xi on his birthday
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended birthday greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, 72, according to a statement from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“The president wished his Chinese counterpart and friend all the very best,” Peskov said.
The message comes on the heels of a visit by Xi in May, when he traveled to Moscow to participate in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II. Xi and Putin held a formal meeting at the Kremlin on May 8, joined by senior delegations from both sides. The talks lasted over three and a half hours and concluded with the signing of a number of joint agreements.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry described Xi’s visit to Moscow as “a complete success.”
Putin described the meeting with Xi as “highly positive” and emphasized the value of face-to-face dialogue. He also thanked the Chinese leader for attending the commemorative event and confirmed his own plans to visit China for ceremonies marking the defeat of militarist Japan.
Beijing has advocated a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict since it escalated in 2022. It has also been critical of the West’s unilateral sanctions against Russia and blamed NATO expansion for provoking the crisis. In 2023, China released a 12-point proposal, received favorably by Moscow, on how to resolve the conflict through a political settlement which respects the realities on the ground.
