Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia September 11, 2018. Mikhail Metzel/TASS Host Photo Agency/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that Russia and China should work together to oppose trade protectionism and what he called unilateral approaches to international problems, a veiled reference to U.S. foreign policy.

Xi made the comments at a news conference in Vladivostok in Russia’s far east after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an economic forum.

Xi, whose country is locked in an escalating trade showdown with the United States, did not mention Washington by name but his comments made it clear he was referring to the U.S. and what Moscow and Beijing regarded as its unacceptable unilateralism.

“In a rapidly changing international situation with growing instability and unpredictability, cooperation between Russia and China takes on even more importance,” said Xi, according to a transcript on the Kremlin’s website.

“Together with the international community we will advance political solutions to current problems, conflicts, unflinchingly defend the aims and principles of the U.N. charter, jointly oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism, and advance a new type of international relations.”