Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin
(Picture: EPA)China has joined Russia in opposing further Nato expansion as the two countries put on a joint front amid Western pressure.
The two leaders, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, met for “very warm” talks during a visit to mark the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
It was the first time the leaders have met face-to-face since the start of the pandemic.
Following their meeting, they issued a joint statement to announce their alliance and show agreement on a range of issues.
“Friendship between [Russia and China] has no limits, there are no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation,” the joint statement read.
Putin has accused the West of using Nato to undermine Russia’s power.
It comes amid tensions over Ukraine, which has seen more than 100,000 Russian troops station itself at the border of the former Soviet republic, sparking fears of an invasion - something Putin denies.
Putin, who has previously said that Russians and Ukrainians are “one nation”, has demanded that Ukraine be barred from joining Nato.
Although the statement did not directly mention Ukraine, the two countries said Nato was supporting a Cold War ideology.
The leaders said they were “seriously concerned” about the Aukus defence pact between the US, UK and Australia.
Last year, alliance was announced as part of efforts to boost security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The pact is seen as an international effort to counter China’s strategic power in the region, after accusations it had sparked tensions over disputed territories such as the South China Sea.
Russia also pledged support for Beijing’s One China policy, which is trying to re-establish Taiwan as part of China.
Despite China believing it is a breakaway province, Taiwan sees itself as an independent country with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.
