MOSCOW - In talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Russian president called for a multipolar economic order.

The two world leaders signed 14 economic agreements on March 21, covering everything from scientific cooperation to joint production of television programs, as they look to counterbalance the US dollar’s worldwide dominance.

In a joint statement announcing the agreements, China and Russia said their alliance was not “confrontational in nature and...not directed against third countries.” The leaders also called for an “acceleration of the process of establishing a multipolar world order.”

Putin specifically mentioned the Chinese currency in the context of Russian investments in the developing world.

“We are in favor of using the Chinese yuan for settlements between Russia and the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America,” Putin said. “I am confident that these forms of settlement in yuan will develop between Russian partners and their counterparts in third countries.”

China has been an economic lifeline for Russia during international sanctions stemming from its invasion of Ukraine, with Beijing agreeing to buy oil and gas exports from the isolated country, though at a discounted rate.

Xi’s attempts to enshrine the yuan as a worldwide currency are part of the Chinese government’s aim to become more involved in global economic and political affairs.

Last week, Xi negotiated a peace treaty between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the goal of helping end a proxy war in Yemen. In related news, Saudi Arabia is considering selling oil to China for yuan instead of dollars.