China’s Xi Jinping warns of ‘law of the jungle’ in meeting with Vladimir Putin

{"text":[[{"start":12.6,"text":"Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin the world is in danger of regressing to “the law of the jungle” as he sought to portray Beijing as a force of global stability just days after hosting Donald Trump for a summit."}],[{"start":26.049999999999997,"text":"The Russian and Chinese leaders met at Tiananmen Square on Wednesday morning ahead of bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People and a state banquet."}],[{"start":34.8,"text":"The summit is aimed at reaffirming Sino-Russian ties at a time when global energy markets and supply chains have been disrupted by the US-Israeli war on Iran. "}],[{"start":45.5,"text":"Speaking to reporters after their meeting, Xi said the two sides should promote co-operation in energy and technology, including in artificial intelligence, and work together to “improve global governance”."}],[{"start":57.2,"text":"“Unilateralism and hegemonism are deeply harmful, and the world faces the danger of regressing back to the law of the jungle,” Xi said in a veiled criticism of the US."}],[{"start":67.7,"text":"Earlier, Xi told Putin that the crisis in the Gulf was at a “critical juncture” and reiterated calls for an end to the fighting to help stabilise global energy supplies and trade, according to comments published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua."}],[{"start":82.95,"text":"The two leaders were greeted by crowds of children holding flowers and a band playing Moscow Nights, a Soviet-era song, Chinese television showed."}],[{"start":93.85000000000001,"text":"Putin said in his opening remarks that “ties between our two countries have reached an unprecedented level”."}],[{"start":100.15,"text":"“Despite unfavourable factors on the international stage, our bilateral relationship has continued to develop steadily,” he said, citing trade volume of more than $200bn and deeper co-operation on energy."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":113.75,"text":"A Xinhua summary of Xi’s comments said China-Russia relations had reached their current level “despite countless trials and tribulations”, thanks to the two sides’ co-operation to deepen mutual political trust and strategic co-ordination."}],[{"start":127.7,"text":"Putin is accompanied in China by several industry leaders including the head of oil company Rosneft, according to CCTV, as well as executives from the country’s central bank."}],[{"start":139,"text":"The Kremlin has said the countries will sign about 40 new documents and issue a 47-page joint statement, highlighting their strengthening partnership."}],[{"start":147.9,"text":"Prior to the visit, the Kremlin said that the long-delayed 50bn cubic metre-a-year Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, intended to run east to China from Russian gasfields that once served Europe, would be a focus of “serious” and “very detailed” discussions between the two leaders. "}],[{"start":165.20000000000002,"text":"China and Russia have tried to paint their relationship as a force for stability in the world and as joint defenders of “global south” developing countries — despite the disruption, destruction and death caused by Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "}],[{"start":181.9,"text":"“Within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Brics and the G20, the two countries work closely together to safeguard the legitimate development rights of global south countries,” Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece Global Times said. The Brics grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and a range of other countries. "}],[{"start":204.85,"text":"“On major international and regional issues, the two heads of state maintain close communication . . . and oppose interference in internal affairs, unilateral sanctions, and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’,” it added, in an implicit criticism of the US."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":219.45,"text":"Beijing has helped Moscow sustain its economy during the war by buying more Russian energy, supplying vital components for Putin’s military and helping it circumvent western sanctions."}],[{"start":230.95,"text":"Analysts said Russia’s economic woes made it more likely the country would seal a deal to proceed with the pipeline, perceived as Moscow’s only real chance to offset some of its lost exports to Europe. "}],[{"start":242.85,"text":"Russia’s budget deficit has soared this year amid runaway inflation and the ballooning costs of the war on Ukraine. "}],[{"start":250.1,"text":"The two countries last September signed a “memorandum of construction” on the pipeline but have yet to agree on the price and volume of purchases.  "}],[{"start":258.9,"text":"Putin’s visit comes after Xi and the US president agreed last week to seek “strategic stability” in their relationship following a stalemate in their trade war last year. Both leaders sought to project the image of a friendly personal relationship during the visit. "}],[{"start":274.4,"text":"China on Wednesday also confirmed the purchase of 200 planes from Boeing, a deal announced by Trump during his trip. China’s commerce ministry said the US had agreed to provide “sufficient guarantees” for the supply of aircraft engines and components, without elaborating."}],[{"start":291.4,"text":"It added that China and the US would work together to extend the détente in their trade war struck in October and would set guiding targets for expanding two-way agricultural trade."}],[{"start":302.45,"text":"Xi told Trump during their talks last week that Putin might end up regretting his invasion of Ukraine, according to several people familiar with the US assessment of the Beijing summit. China’s foreign ministry and Trump have denied the report."}],[{"start":317.15,"text":"Additional reporting by Tina Hu in Beijing and Wenjie Ding in Shanghai "}],[{"start":329.84999999999997,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779265300_7389.mp3"}