The United States’ two most powerful rivals, China and Russia, used a meeting this week to pledge deepened strategic ties as part of a “new era” in bilateral relations, in a display of their growing alignment amid efforts to push back against the U.S.-led world order.
One of the main takeaways from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to China that wrapped up Friday was a joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which the two vowed to not only expand their partnership, but also “increase interaction and tighten coordination” to counter Washington’s “destructive and hostile” actions to “contain” both countries.
The tough rhetoric appeared to signal a rebuke of recent U.S. and European calls on Beijing to curtail its growing relations with Moscow.