Xi makes 'honeymoon' visit to Sochi Olympics

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-02-10

Chinese president Xi Jinping meets his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Puting in Russia on Feb. 6, 2014. (Photo/Xinhua)

Political observers believe Chinese president and Communist Party chief Xi Jinping's attendance at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics symbolizes an unprecedented "honeymoon period" in Sino-Russian relations, reports Duowei News, an outlet run by overseas Chinese.

Despite efforts by Russian president Vladimir Putin to separate the global sports event from politics, most media reports have focused on the country's corruption, the environmental damage caused by construction of the poor Olympic facilities, and Putin's controversial anti-homosexual stance.

In a meeting on Friday with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who had previously criticized Russia's stance, Putin said the Olympics is not the place to debate political issues. Later, the Russian leader added that he had seen a television report in which he said a man in a gay club in the Black Sea resort told journalists: "Leave us alone. Sport is sport. The Olympics are the Olympics. Let's focus."

Accordingly, the appearance of Xi at the US$51 billion opening ceremony on Feb. 8 is seen as a strong sign of Chinese support for Putin and Russia. Xi's presence stood out even more as US president Barack Obama, French president Francois Hollande, British prime minister David Cameron and German president Joachim Gauck were all notably absent.

Duowei, citing foreign media commentary, said Xi's visit, the first time he has attended a major foreign sports event as president, indicates that Sino-Russian relations have entered an unprecedented honeymoon period. The outlet noted that Xi and Putin met half a dozen times last year and that the Chinese president chose Russia for his first overseas trips in both 2013 and 2014.

"That serves as a potent proof of the special bond between the two nations," added an article from China's official Xinhua news agency.

During his meeting with Putin last week, Xi called Russia "a good neighbor, good partner, and good friend." He equated his visit to the Sochi Olympics to congratulating a neighbor on a happy occasion. For his part, Putin agreed that in coming to Russia, Xi was coming "to see a good friend."x