Vladimir Putin with Xi Jinping
China’s embassy in Russia protested the treatment of five Chinese citizens who were denied entrance into Russia, saying the action was inconsistent with the two nations’ overall amicable relations.
The five, who were attempting to drive into Russia from Kazakhstan late last month, were denied entrance after four hours of questioning and had their visas canceled, according to the embassy’s WeChat social media account on Friday.
The embassy met with Russia’s foreign ministry and border authorities, clearly pointing out that the brutal and excessive law enforcement by Russia in this incident seriously damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens.
The embassy noted Russian officials’ declarations that Russia welcomes and does not discriminate against Chinese citizens, as well as the fact that the five Chinese visa application did not match their actual destination.
Since Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin established a no-limits partnership in February 2022, when Putin visited Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics only days before launching the Ukraine invasion, Beijing and Moscow have regularly boasted of their strong ties.
On Friday, China said it will send a senior official to Saudi Arabia for weekend discussions aimed at finding a peaceful solution to Ukraine’s conflict at a venue that does not include Russia – a diplomatic coup for Kyiv, the West, and the Saudi hosts.
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