Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to embark on a two-day state visit to China this week, as confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. The visit underscores the deepening ties between the two authoritarian nations against the backdrop of escalating tensions with the U.S.-led Western global order.
Putin is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his visit commencing on Thursday, according to the ministry. Discussions between the two leaders will encompass “cooperation in various fields of bilateral relations … as well as international and regional issues of common concern,” although specific details were not disclosed, news agency AP reported.
The Kremlin, in a statement, noted Putin’s acceptance of Xi’s invitation. Notably, this marks Putin’s maiden foreign trip since commencing his fifth term in office as president.
The partnership between China and Russia was cemented with a “no limits” declaration in February 2022 during Putin’s visit to Beijing, mere days before Russian forces entered Ukraine.
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China has provided political support to Russia throughout the Ukraine conflict and has sustained exports of crucial goods, such as machine tools and electronics, believed to bolster Russia’s war efforts, without directly supplying weaponry, AP reported. Additionally, China serves as a significant export market for energy supplies, thereby contributing to the Kremlin’s financial stability.
While China has attempted to portray itself as a neutral actor in the Ukrainian conflict, its alignment with Russia against the West has been unequivocal. Joint military exercises between the two nations and China’s opposition to economic sanctions on Russia further exemplify this alliance, AP stated in a report.
In a separate development, Russia’s Investigative Committee announced on Tuesday the arrest of Lt. Gen. Yury Kuznetsov, head of the ministry’s main personnel directorate, on charges of bribery, the report mentioned.
The burgeoning alliance between these two vast authoritarian states is occurring amidst growing discord between democracies and NATO, as both seek to extend their influence across Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
Putin’s visit coincides with the impending inauguration of William Lai Ching-te as Taiwan’s next president, a move likely to exacerbate tensions given China’s territorial claims over the self-governing island.
Xi’s recent return from a diplomatic tour of Europe, notably Hungary and Serbia, signals China’s efforts to expand its global influence and create a divide between the EU, NATO, and a coalition of authoritarian nations bolstered by Chinese economic sway, AP’s report mentioned.
