Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to China this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting comes as the two nations aim to deepen their partnership, which has been described as a “no limits” alliance. Putin’s visit to China marks his second trip outside of the former Soviet Union since the war.
The meeting between Putin and Xi will take place during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on October 17-18. The forum aims to strengthen economic cooperation and connectivity between countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, which is China’s ambitious infrastructure project.
China and Russia’s partnership has gained significance over the past decade. They share a similar world view that sees the West as decadent and in decline, while China challenges the United States’ supremacy in various areas, including technology and military power.
However, the relationship between the United States and China and Russia remains strained. US President Joe Biden has referred to Xi as a “dictator” and has labeled Putin as a “killer” who should not remain in power. This has led to scolding from Beijing and Moscow.
Despite the tensions, Xi must balance his close ties with Putin with the reality of dealing with the United States, which has the world’s strongest military and economy. The United States has warned China against supplying weapons to Russia as it battles Ukrainian forces supported by the US and the European Union.
While big public deals between China and Russia may be unlikely due to the optics of the ongoing Ukraine war, military and nuclear cooperation are expected to be discussed during the meeting. Additionally, Russia is hoping to secure a deal to sell more natural gas to China and plans to build the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline.
The visit to China by Putin is significant, as it showcases the strong alliance between the two nations and their shared goals of challenging US dominance on the global stage. The outcome of their meeting and any agreements reached could have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape.