Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin and, regarding the Middle East situation, said, "A comprehensive cease-fire cannot be delayed for even a moment." Sitting face to face with Russia, a key ally of Iran, he publicly stressed the need to resolve the Middle East crisis. The two leaders also issued messages at the summit on strengthening China-Russia cooperation and "opposing unilateralism and hegemony."
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 20th, Xi said at a summit held that morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, "The situation in the Middle East and Gulf region is at a critical juncture at the crossroads of war and peace," and added the remarks. Russia is a representative ally of Iran.
Xi said, "A resumption of war is undesirable, and it is especially important to stick to negotiations," adding, "A swift de-escalation of the war will help stabilize supply chains and reduce disruptions to the international trade order."
On China-Russia relations, he said, "China and Russia have deepened cooperation with perseverance that does not lose its resolve despite numerous trials," adding, "The reason China-Russia relations have developed to today's high level is that, with the courage to remain calm even when dark storm clouds gather, we have upheld international fairness and justice and pushed forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."
He went on, "The current international situation is entangled with turmoil and change, and the countercurrents of unilateralism and hegemony are rampant, but pursuing peace, seeking development, and promoting cooperation remain the direction of public sentiment and the trend of the times," adding, "China and Russia should, through higher-level cooperation, push for the establishment of a more just and reasonable global governance system."
Putin addressed Xi as a "dear friend" and claimed that bilateral ties are a model of international relations. Putin said, "Despite unfavorable external factors, our cooperation and economic relations remain positive," adding, "Given the current international situation, where tensions persist, even closer cooperation between our two countries is particularly necessary."
He added, "Together with our Chinese friends, we are working to safeguard the diversity of cultures and civilizations, respect each country's sovereign development, and build a fairer and more democratic world order."