Thursday saw the grand welcome of Russian President Vladimir Putin by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. They rolled out the red carpet, complete with a military band and enthusiastic flag-waving kids. The camaraderie between the two leaders was evident, as they hailed a new era in China-Russia relations, even sharing a brief hug.
Putin's choice of destination for his first official international trip since his fifth-term election was China. This move comes as Washington and its allies isolate Russia's economy and back Ukrainian forces against Moscow's ongoing invasion. Putin seems to be leaning on his "dear friend" in China to keep his country's wartime economy afloat, particularly through oil purchases. On the other side, Xi Jinping aims to secure a reliable partner for China amid economic challenges from Europe and tariffs from the United States.
During a press conference following their talks, Xi and Putin emphasized their vision for a more stable international order, contrasting it with the Western-led world order. Xi labeled Sino-Russian ties as a "model" for international relations, criticizing what he called the lingering "Cold War mentality" and the threats posed by hegemony and power politics.
Last week, Xi Jinping visited Europe amidst rising tensions with EU states, ranging from espionage allegations to concerns about China's influence in the electric vehicle market. The U.S. State Department has warned China against maintaining strong ties with both Russia and Europe simultaneously, emphasizing the contradiction in such a stance.
The partnership between China and Russia has grown significantly, especially since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. China has become Russia's top importer of crude oil, providing a vital economic lifeline amidst sanctions. Bilateral trade between the two nations has surged, benefiting Moscow while also increasing its dependency on Beijing.
Despite China claiming neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, it has presented its own peace plan while censoring criticism of Russia domestically. The United States has been pressuring China to cut financial support to Russia's military industrial base, leading to concerns among Chinese banks and Russian traders.
Putin concluded his China trip with a visit to Harbin, highlighting the ongoing cooperation and strengthening ties between the two nations.
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