The Kremlin announced on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, just days after President Donald Trump held a notable meeting with Xi.
The timing is notable, coming less than 24 hours after Trump returned home. Officially, the Russian government stated that this coincidence is purely accidental and that Putin’s trip is linked to the 25th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Friendship, which was originally signed by Putin with Xi’s predecessor, Jiang Zemin, on July 16, 2001.
Noteworthy — American National Anthem played during President Trump’s visit:
2001 document – officially known as the Treaty of Good Neighborhood, Friendship and Cooperation, marked the first formal agreement between Russia and China since Stalin’s time with Mao Zedong in 1950.
This treaty signified a thawing of long-standing hostilities and initiated a partnership between the two nations aimed at countering what they perceive as American dominance, a strategy referred to as “multipolarization.”
The last 25 years have resulted in close military, economic, and diplomatic collaboration between Russia and China. Occasionally, there have been frictions, particularly since Russia’s actions in Ukraine. China, for instance, isn’t entirely pleased with Putin’s military strategy. Still, these nations have pursued enhancing their relationship, refining it to an “unrestricted partnership” in 2022, while China’s attempts to persuade Putin to cease hostilities in Ukraine have largely fallen flat.
Noteworthy — President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi:
Peskov expressed strong hopes for Putin’s trip to Beijing, declaring it part of a “particularly privileged and strategic partnership.” A detailed outline of the visit is expected soon from Yuri Ushakov, a close aide to Putin.
Peskov emphasized, “Our delegation isn’t in competition with anyone. We’re nurturing an independent and multifaceted relationship with China, which we call a privileged strategic partnership.” He also hinted there were some questions about whether Putin was prioritizing Trump’s previous visit.
Noteworthy — Sen. Cotton: The US must recognize China as an “evil empire” plotting “world domination”:
While Peskov acknowledged that economic issues would be addressed during the talks, he sidestepped questions about the Power of Siberia-2 (PoS-2) gas pipeline project. This project aims to deliver up to 50 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to China via Mongolia, effectively substituting for the sales to Europe that Russia lost post-invasion.
Russia seems eager to finalize the PoS-2 agreement, possibly even more than China, which has concerns over pricing. If all goes well, pipelines could start supplying gas to China as early as 2030.
Economist suggested that Xi’s invitation to Putin was intended as a clear sign that improving relations with the U.S. won’t undermine their “unlimited partnership.” This visit could also be Xi’s way of reinforcing that he holds the upper hand in their collaboration.
If the PoS-2 pipeline comes up for discussion, it’s likely that Xi will point out Russia’s greater urgency in needing to sell gas than China has in purchasing it. Following conflicts in the region, this may represent Putin’s best opportunity in years to close a deal.
While Russia still has advanced military technology, it’s been reluctant to share much with China, as the latter increasingly produces its own previously imported arms. Conversely, Russia seeks to acquire dual-use technology from China to recover losses from Ukraine, hinting at new military agreements that may not formally be disclosed during the visit.
Deutsche Welle (DW) remarked that even with the ongoing partnership, Russia and China could be likened to “a married couple in the same bed with different dreams.” Perhaps this week presents a chance for a frank discussion about these differing aspirations.
