BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia pledged a joint response to unilateral sanctions during a visit by Russia’s Prime Minister, as Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to advancing ties with Moscow despite “turbulent” external conditions.
“Both sides will make every necessary effort to carry out mutual assistance and cooperation in opposing unilateral coercive measures,” Beijing and Moscow said in a joint communique released by China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday after a meeting between Premier Li Qiang and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin the day earlier.
“Any unilateral coercive measures taken by any country or group of countries bypassing UN Security Council resolutions are illegal,” it said, adding that such measures cannot be accepted or recognized.
China and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, with power to veto its resolutions.
The remarks came amid renewed attempts by U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure Moscow over war with Ukraine - and those doing business with Moscow - with sanctions and secondary tariffs.
Beijing has also consistently sought to consolidate ties with its northern neighbor despite a recently agreed-upon trade truce with the United States.
In the joint communique, China and Russia stressed the need to “prevent some country from abusing their monopoly and dominant position in specific sectors of the world economy,” without naming the U.S. directly.
Chinese President Xi met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for expanding mutual investment, a day after Premier Li Qiang held a regular meeting with Mishustin in Hangzhou, where Li said China wanted to strengthen cooperation with Russia and defend shared security interests.
The Kremlin has highlighted the significance of Mishustin’s visit at a time when Russia is under major Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine and looking to stem a recent slowdown in trade with China.
“China-Russia relations have stayed the course toward higher-level and higher-quality development, advancing steadily despite a turbulent external environment,” Xi told Mishustin, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“Safeguarding, consolidating and developing China-Russia relations is a strategic choice for both sides,” Xi said.
He highlighted industries such as energy, agriculture, aerospace, digital economy and green development where the two countries could advance cooperation and foster new engines of growth.
Mishustin said it was important for both sides to continue creating favorable conditions for attracting mutual investment and supporting joint projects, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.