SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday that Moscow supports Beijing's "one China" policy, "provocations" by the United States in the Taiwan Strait. opposes, and values China's "balanced position". “On Ukraine.
The two leaders were meeting in Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. It was their first face-to-face meeting since Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine in February.
In televised opening remarks at the bilateral meeting, Putin told Xi: "We highly value the balanced stance of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis . We understand the questions and concern. We will certainly clarify our position during today's meeting.
Russia has drawn closer to China since sending its armed forces into Ukraine in February, a decision that triggered an unprecedented setback to Western sanctions against Moscow.
Putin also threw his weight behind Beijing's key positions in a brief public statement, aligning the two countries in what analysts see as an anti-American, anti-Western alliance.
Putin cited Beijing's insistence that other countries do not recognize Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing claims is part of China, as an independent country.
Putin said that we intend to firmly adhere to the principle of 'One China'.
He added that Russia "condemns the provocations of the US and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait", a possible reference to the Aug. 27 visit of US Navy warships in international waters in the Taiwan Strait. Read the full story
The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is obligated by law to provide the island with means of self-defense.
China has never refused to use force to bring Taiwan under its control.
