Shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine, the head of the Kremlin and the Chinese president demonstrated their solidarity.
(Photo: AP)
Dusseldorf In a keynote address this week, Vladimir Putin outlined his vision of a prosperous Asia-Pacific region. At an economic forum in Vladivostok in eastern Russia, the Russian President spoke of “new centers of economic and technological growth”.
Next week, Putin wants to deepen his blueprint for the global future with Russia’s most important partner. The Kremlin chief is meeting with China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16 to outline perspectives – it should be about economic cooperation, military cooperation and how the two states deal with the systemic conflict with the West can position together.
The talks are taking place during a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov. Russia is actively preparing for the next meeting of both presidents. In addition to Russia and China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization also includes India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Political observers ascribe a high symbolic importance to the meeting. Xi Jinping has not left China for more than two years. The fact that his first trip abroad is now aimed at Putin is seen as a clear commitment to Russia. This meeting is particularly surprising because his first trip abroad after the corona pandemic was actually supposed to lead to Saudi Arabia.
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Both presidents last met at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in early February. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine that followed, China’s leaders steadfastly backed Putin.
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In the Ukraine war, the Chinese government describes itself as neutral, but in fact it supports Moscow’s positions on most points: It rejects NATO’s eastward expansion, accuses the USA of stoking tensions, speaks of Russia’s “legitimate security concerns” and condemns them western sanctions as illegal. It also refuses to identify the Russian invasion as such and avoids speaking of a war.
The two states cooperate closely with each other – also militarily.
(Photo: IMAGO/UPI Photo)
Most recently, the visit of top US politician Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan had massively increased tensions between China and the United States. According to political observers, that should also be an incentive for Beijing to strengthen itself in the competition with the West through an alliance with Russia.
In the West, there is growing concern that the two powers will join forces even more politically, economically and militarily. This week, Russian and Chinese troops practiced together in the major military maneuvers “Vostok”.
According to political observers, however, economic cooperation is more important than military cooperation. Because of the sanctions imposed by the West, China is becoming Russia’s most important trading partner. For Beijing, Russia is primarily of interest as a supplier of raw materials.
The plans for the G20 summit in Bali in November also show how close the partnership has become. Both Putin and Xi intend to appear there, as recently announced by host Indonesian President Joko Widodo. An event of symbolic importance: together they could form a counterpoint to the leading politicians of the West – a sign of an increasingly bipolar world. Several states are threatening to cancel if Putin appears in person.
More: Military maneuvers by Russia and China: Should the West fear Putin’s alliance with Xi?