Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing on Thursday, marking an effort by both countries to strengthen their strategic relationship.
Putin’s two-day state visit to China, invited by Xi, is his first foreign trip since beginning his fifth term in office last week. Both nations have emphasized their “no-limits” friendship since February 2022, aiming to counterbalance the global influence of the United States.
China has increasingly supported Russia’s economic needs since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, as Washington continues to impose sanctions on Moscow. In an interview with state-media Xinhua ahead of the visit, Putin highlighted that trade volume between the two countries reached $227.8 billion last year, up from $111 billion in 2019. “The current bilateral trade volume is about 20 trillion rubles, or nearly 1.6 trillion yuan,” Putin noted, equating to approximately $219.6 billion.
Both sides aim to deepen cooperation in various sectors, including high-technology, outer space, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy, according to Putin.
China’s close ties with Russia have been a contentious issue for the U.S., with Washington urging Beijing to reduce its military support for Moscow. On the trade front, U.S. President Joe Biden recently announced new tariff rates on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports to protect American industries from what Washington deems “unfair trade practices” by China.
The increasing economic and diplomatic pressure from the U.S. and its allies may push China closer to Russia, according to observers. During his visit, Putin is expected to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and travel to the northeastern city of Harbin for a trade and investment expo, Russian state media reported.
