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Diplomacy
Vladimir Putin to roll out red carpet for Xi Jinping as Russia and China seek to move closer in face of growing US mistrust
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping pictured in Vladivostok last year. Photo: Reuters
President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next month, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as China seeks to cement ties with its most important strategic partner amid its escalating trade war with the US.
The three-day state visit to Russia will start next Wednesday and was made at the invitation of Xi’s Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry.
During his visit to Russia, Xi will attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, Lu added.
This will be the second meeting between Xi and Putin in recent weeks since the Russian leader visited Beijing late in April, where the Russian leader expressed support for the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi’s signature policy.
This ambitious transcontinental trade and infrastructure development project has been the subject of increasing criticism and suspicion from the US and its allies, which are worried that it is will reshape the Western-led international system to serve Chinese interests.
It will also be the first overseas trip by the Chinese leader since trade talks with the US fell apart earlier this month when Donald Trump accused Beijing of “reneging” on its previous promises and raised tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
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Beijing has denied the accusation, saying the US has kept making extra demands, and responded with a tariff increase on US$60 billion of US products that comes into force on June 1.
China and Russia have been working to strengthen ties in multiple spheres in recent years – especially since 2014 when Moscow’s already deteriorating ties with the West worsened further following the annexation of Crimea and led to the imposition of heavy economic sanctions.
China-Russia relations are unrivalled, Beijing warns before US’ Mike Pompeo meets Vladimir Putin
Putin has since been looking east to Asia – China in particular – to counter the effect of Western pressure on Russia’s economy.
Trade between the two countries last year rose by 24.5 per cent to a record high of US$108 billion, and Russia is now China’s biggest energy supplier.
Russia has also sought Beijing’s support in developing the Arctic – a move that has irked Washington and prompted warnings from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the dangers of Russian militarisation and Chinese investment.
Donald Trump accused Beijing of reneging on its previous promises. Photo: Reuters
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Ties between Beijing and Moscow are expected to become warmer as China’s trade war with the US escalates, while observers also expect the two sides to seek a coordinated approach in areas where they have overlapping interests, such as North Korea and Venezuela.
Stephen Blank, a senior fellow at Washington-based think tank the American Foreign Policy Council, said the escalating trade war “would lead Russia closer to China for now because it must depend on China until there is marked improvement in ties with the US”.
However, he noted Moscow’s “subterranean impulses” would tempt it to “try to exploit that war to enhance Russia’s ability to manoeuvre between them” although “I am pessimistic that Moscow can, in fact, do so”.
China and Russia forge stronger Eurasian economic ties in belt and road plan
Economic cooperation is also likely to be high on the agenda because, despite last year’s dramatic increase in trade, the total volume remains disappointing and they are unlikely to reach a target figure of US$200 billion by next year.
“China will seek to step up cooperation on energy and natural resources, hi-tech, the digital economy and space,” said Li Lifan, from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Xi and Putin are also expected to attend the G20 summit in Japan at the end of June – an event Trump is also expected to attend.
The US president has previously said he would meet both Xi and Putin on the sidelines of the event, but neither China nor Russia has confirmed the meetings will take place.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Xi to visit Russia as U.S. Trade war brings two sides closer
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Diplomacy
Vladimir Putin to roll out red carpet for Xi Jinping as Russia and China seek to move closer in face of growing US mistrust
- Xi’s visit likely to see both ties trying to strengthen a key strategic partnership as trade war hits Beijing’s relations with US
- Meeting between two presidents is second in recent weeks, and they are likely to meet again at the G20 summit in late June
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping pictured in Vladivostok last year. Photo: Reuters
President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next month, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as China seeks to cement ties with its most important strategic partner amid its escalating trade war with the US.
The three-day state visit to Russia will start next Wednesday and was made at the invitation of Xi’s Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry.
During his visit to Russia, Xi will attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, Lu added.
This will be the second meeting between Xi and Putin in recent weeks since the Russian leader visited Beijing late in April, where the Russian leader expressed support for the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi’s signature policy.
This ambitious transcontinental trade and infrastructure development project has been the subject of increasing criticism and suspicion from the US and its allies, which are worried that it is will reshape the Western-led international system to serve Chinese interests.
It will also be the first overseas trip by the Chinese leader since trade talks with the US fell apart earlier this month when Donald Trump accused Beijing of “reneging” on its previous promises and raised tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
SUBSCRIBE TO US China Trade War
Get updates direct to your inbox
By registering for these newsletters you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Beijing has denied the accusation, saying the US has kept making extra demands, and responded with a tariff increase on US$60 billion of US products that comes into force on June 1.
China and Russia have been working to strengthen ties in multiple spheres in recent years – especially since 2014 when Moscow’s already deteriorating ties with the West worsened further following the annexation of Crimea and led to the imposition of heavy economic sanctions.
China-Russia relations are unrivalled, Beijing warns before US’ Mike Pompeo meets Vladimir Putin
Putin has since been looking east to Asia – China in particular – to counter the effect of Western pressure on Russia’s economy.
Trade between the two countries last year rose by 24.5 per cent to a record high of US$108 billion, and Russia is now China’s biggest energy supplier.
Russia has also sought Beijing’s support in developing the Arctic – a move that has irked Washington and prompted warnings from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the dangers of Russian militarisation and Chinese investment.
Donald Trump accused Beijing of reneging on its previous promises. Photo: Reuters
Share:
Ties between Beijing and Moscow are expected to become warmer as China’s trade war with the US escalates, while observers also expect the two sides to seek a coordinated approach in areas where they have overlapping interests, such as North Korea and Venezuela.
Stephen Blank, a senior fellow at Washington-based think tank the American Foreign Policy Council, said the escalating trade war “would lead Russia closer to China for now because it must depend on China until there is marked improvement in ties with the US”.
However, he noted Moscow’s “subterranean impulses” would tempt it to “try to exploit that war to enhance Russia’s ability to manoeuvre between them” although “I am pessimistic that Moscow can, in fact, do so”.
China and Russia forge stronger Eurasian economic ties in belt and road plan
Economic cooperation is also likely to be high on the agenda because, despite last year’s dramatic increase in trade, the total volume remains disappointing and they are unlikely to reach a target figure of US$200 billion by next year.
“China will seek to step up cooperation on energy and natural resources, hi-tech, the digital economy and space,” said Li Lifan, from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Xi and Putin are also expected to attend the G20 summit in Japan at the end of June – an event Trump is also expected to attend.
The US president has previously said he would meet both Xi and Putin on the sidelines of the event, but neither China nor Russia has confirmed the meetings will take place.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Xi to visit Russia as U.S. Trade war brings two sides closer
Comments (0)
Read more
China looks to Russia, Central Asia for support amid tensions with US
Read more
China and Russia to forge stronger Eurasian economic ties
