Kathmandu, December 15
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks on Wednesday. As
tensions between Russia and China escalate with the West, the two leaders are set to hold virtual talks.
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the virtual talks on Wednesday would focus on
“aggressive” statements by the United States and NATO.
“The situation in the international arena, especially on the European continent, is very tense at the
moment and there is a need for dialogue between the allies, “Al Jazeera quoted Peskov as saying.”
Russia and China are cooperating militarily. The two countries seem to be strengthening ties in the
economic and diplomatic spheres as well.
Putin has been using his partnership with China as a tool to limit US influence as relations with the West
deteriorate. Even Xi has sought to balance the United States by tightening ties with Russia.
For months now, relations between Russia and China have been strained.
Russia and the United States have been protesting the deployment of thousands of troops and weapons
near the Ukrainian border. He is accused of deploying troops and weapons along the border to attack
Ukraine. But Russia has denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, countries in the West have been criticizing China over Uighur Muslims, human rights and
Hong Kong. There are also differences between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology,
including in the South China Sea and Taiwan.
