Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, visited Beijing to strengthen ties with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, seeking diplomatic support and financial assistance as his country faces sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. The two leaders share a vision of a world order where autocratic nations like Russia and China can operate without interference from the United States. Amid tightening Western pressure on China to cut off support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, Mr. Putin is hoping to secure additional backing from Mr. Xi to sustain his military efforts.
The leaders discussed deepening ties in trade, financial transactions, energy, and nuclear power research. Mr. Putin highlighted China’s role as Russia’s top trade partner and the use of their currencies, the ruble and renminbi, in transactions. The summit focused on military and space cooperation, suggesting discussions on how China can assist Russia’s military objectives in Ukraine. Despite Western sanctions affecting the Russian economy, Chinese products have helped fill the void left by Western companies, allowing Moscow to maintain a semblance of consumer normalcy.
Mr. Putin’s visit to Beijing comes as his military makes advances in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, before significant arms shipments from the United States arrive to bolster Ukrainian forces. The Russian president aims to circumvent Western sanctions and procure support for banking facilities and supplies, rather than lethal weapons, from China. The summit may address concerns about scaling back Chinese bank transactions with Russian firms, leading to a decline in trade between the two countries. Mr. Putin’s delegation included officials from the defense, economy, and foreign ministries, reflecting efforts to strengthen economic and military cooperation with China.
The two leaders emphasized their strong bilateral relationship, with Mr. Putin lauding the stabilizing role of their cooperation in world affairs. They portrayed their partnership as a strategic alliance against Western attempts to constrain their countries. Despite warnings of potential sanctions from the United States, Mr. Putin and Mr. Xi underscored their commitment to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership in recognition of 75 years of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. The visit sought to demonstrate solidarity and mutual support between the two nations, signaling their resilience against Western pressure.
Mr. Putin called for increased economic cooperation in various sectors, including energy, industry, agriculture, advanced technologies, infrastructure, and transportation. The leaders emphasized the importance of using rubles and renminbi for trade settlements to bypass U.S. restrictions on using dollars. The summit aimed to strengthen ties between the countries, solidifying their strategic alignment against Western influence in global affairs. The discussions focused on finding ways to enhance military-technological cooperation to support Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine and overcome challenges posed by Western sanctions.
While the visit showcased the enduring partnership between Russia and China, observers noted that the leaders did not address specific projects during the summit, such as the proposed natural gas pipeline from Russia to China. Mr. Putin’s symbolic visit to Harbin, a city with historical ties to Russia, underscored the close scientific and military collaboration between the two countries. As Moscow and Beijing deepen their cooperation, the summit highlighted their interdependence and the limited impact of Western sanctions as long as China stands by Russia. The meeting between Mr. Putin and Mr. Xi signaled their determination to resist external pressure and continue working together to advance their shared interests.
