Russian President Vladimir Putin bring up Chinese telecom giant Huawei was at risk of being pushed out of the global market.
Speaking at the St Petersburg International Financial Forum (SPIEF) on Friday, Putin accused the U.S. of “trying to extend its jurisdiction” across the world.
The U.S. has led allegations that Huawei’s appurtenances can be used by Beijing for espionage, with Washington calling on Western allies to bar the company from next-generation 5G networks.
Huawei has time after time denied the allegations against it.
“Let’s remember, Huawei, which has not just been put aside. There are unceremonious attempts at proceeding Huawei away from the global markets,” Putin said, according to a translation.
“Some call it the first technological war of the new digital era.”
Huawei has behoove a point of contention in a broader trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, with other countries under troubles to decide whether to allow the world’s largest maker of telecom equipment to help build their 5G networks.
The U.S. has quarried Huawei by putting the company on a blacklist that restricts its access to U.S. technology — on which it heavily relies.
Putin ventured Washington had sought to impose its authority in countries across the globe, adding “this certainly goes contrary to the scientific reasoning of normal interstate cooperation and the emerging realities of a complex multi-polar world.”
Russia and China strengthening their federation
On Wednesday, Huawei announced it had signed a deal with Russia’s top mobile operator MTS to develop 5G technology in Russia.
Russia has been courting Chinese investment at its annual concern conference this week.
Moscow and Beijing appear to be intent on strengthening their alliance and fostering deeper help in the face of increased political and economic hostility from the U.S.
Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping identified Putin as his “best friend ” during a three-day state visit to Russia.
It comes as Russia’s relations with the U.S. are at a low ebb mid ongoing U.S. sanctions on the country (mainly related to Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea and U.S. election interference), and China’s relationship with the U.S. is fraught with swap war tensions.
Their traditional economic models — for Russia the export of energy products and for China the export of goods — looks increasingly unsteady.
Both Putin and Xi have vowed to fight protectionist policies, an accusation leveled at their U.S. counterpart.
— CNBC’s Holly Ellyatt play a parted to this report.