Xi Jinping Calls for Immediate End to Gulf Hostilities During Talks With Vladimir Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for an immediate end to hostilities in the Gulf region during high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, signalling growing concern among major powers over escalating tensions in West Asia.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi said the region stood at a “critical juncture between war and peace” and stressed that diplomacy must prevail.

“The situation of the Gulf region in the Middle East is at a critical juncture between war and peace, and all hostilities must end immediately,” Xi said during the meeting.

The Chinese President also used the occasion to call for stronger coordination between Beijing and Moscow on global governance, positioning both countries as stabilising forces amid mounting international uncertainty.

“Currently, amid the chaos in the international situation, aspirations towards peace still remain the expectation of our nation. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and important powers of the world, Russia and China must strive for cooperation on a higher level, building a just system of global governance,” he said.

Putin Reaffirms Russia’s Role as China’s Energy Partner

During the talks, Putin reiterated Moscow’s commitment to maintaining strong economic and energy ties with Beijing despite geopolitical turbulence and ongoing instability in the Middle East.

“Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia still remains a reliable energy supplier of energy resources for China. We have major projects going on in transport, economy and high technology,” Putin said.

The Russian President’s visit comes just days after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing, adding geopolitical significance to the Russia-China summit.

Symbolism and Strategy Behind Putin’s China Visit

Chinese and Russian state media highlighted the ceremonial warmth surrounding Putin’s arrival in Beijing, underscoring the increasingly close relationship between the two nations.

Russian state agency TASS reported that Putin described bilateral relations as having reached “a truly unprecedented level” shortly before landing in China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two leaders are expected to hold extensive discussions on bilateral relations, economic cooperation, technology partnerships, transportation projects, and regional security concerns.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun noted that this marks Putin’s 25th official visit to China, reflecting the depth of strategic engagement between the two countries.

Guo also underlined the broader diplomatic goal of the visit.

“The two sides will take this visit as an opportunity to continue to promote the development of China-Russia relations to a higher level, which will inject greater stability and positive energy into the world,” he said.

Xi and Putin Continue Personal Diplomatic Bond

Since Xi assumed office in 2012, the Chinese and Russian leaders have met dozens of times and consistently projected a close personal rapport. Both leaders frequently refer to each other as “dear friend” during official engagements, emphasising mutual trust and long-term strategic coordination.

The latest meeting comes at a time when the global geopolitical landscape is increasingly shaped by conflict in West Asia, intensifying US-China rivalry, and shifting alliances among major powers.

(With inputs from ANI)