Xi and Putin Announce Shift to Multipolar World Order After Beijing Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signed a joint declaration outlining bilateral cooperation during their meeting in Beijing. The document focuses on building a “multipolar world” and a new type of international relations. The two countries also announced the signing of a large package of deals solidifying future cooperation.

The declaration is described as a 47-page policy document, with both sides calling for a more multipolar world where the US has less power and influence. Both leaders have spoken out against the “unipolar” hegemony that they say the US has over the world.

During the meeting, Xi stated that the tide of unilateral hegemony is running rampant. The Kremlin released a statement saying that relations between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented level and continue to develop. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in areas such as economics, sport, education, and media.

The two countries have signed around 40 intergovernmental, interagency, and corporate documents, with many focusing on economic cooperation. Trade between Russia and China reached $240 billion last year, with bilateral trade growing by 20 percent in the first four months of this year. The Kremlin stated that nearly all import and export transactions between Russia and China are in roubles and yuan.

The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump completed his own visit to China for a two-day summit with Xi.

Source: Al Jazeera