In Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping Sees a ‘Counterweight’ to American Influence: White House

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…