In Russia, China Sees 'Counterweight' To American Influence: White House
NDTV
In President Vladimir Putin and Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping sees a "counterweight" to American and NATO influence on the continent and elsewhere around the world, the White House has said.
The statement by John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, came as Putin accorded a red carpet welcome to his Chinese counterpart Xi in Moscow and held marathon talks spread over two days on a range of issues, including the raging war in Ukraine.
"I think you've seen over the years that these two countries are growing close together. I wouldn't go so far to call it an alliance. ... (it's) a marriage of convenience, because that's what I think it is. In President Putin and Russia, President Xi sees a counterweight to American influence and NATO influence, certainly on the continent and elsewhere around the world," Kirby told reporters at a daily news conference here on Tuesday.
"In President Xi, President Putin sees a potential backer here. This is a man who doesn't have a whole lot of friends on the international stage. They can count them on one hand mostly. He really needs and wants President Xi's support for what he's trying to do, because he's blowing through inventory," he said.
