Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Russia for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, among other things, about the war and cooperation between the two countries. The state visit officially lasts until Wednesday. “Today it’s informal, tomorrow we’ll really talk about conversations,” says Russia correspondent Joost Bosman.
According to Bosman, even if it seems to be a meeting between two friends, Xi is actually not happy with Putin’s war in Ukraine. It doesn’t matter that China and Russia are strengthening ties with each other. And that’s what the conversations will be about tomorrow. Then treaties are signed. It will concern economic cooperation and possibly gas supply. But also about the war in Ukraine. “And this is obviously a more ambivalent argument, especially for Xi Jinping.”
On the one hand, Xi doesn’t want war, but he does want to supply weapons. Last week, US news site Politico reported that flak vests, guns and drone parts have already been supplied by China. ‘But this is little beer compared to what Russia really needs; artillery and missiles.’ And China is not yet ready to provide it.
‘Xi must walk on eggshells’
It has everything to do with the more than uncomfortable split that Putin forced Beijing into: Xi is not happy with the war in Ukraine, but neither is he interested in losing to Russia. “Because that only causes border riots. They are neighboring countries with a very long border. So Xi is not waiting for that either. He has to walk on eggshells a bit.’
‘Friend’
On the eve of the visit, both leaders praised each other widely in the media. In a Chinese newspaper, Putin called Xi Jinping a “good old friend” and welcomed China’s willingness to play a “constructive role” in resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Putin also said that Russia has high hopes for his visit.
Xi, in turn, called for “pragmatism” towards Ukraine in an article in Rossiiskaya Gazeta. “And that’s also quite significant,” Bosman says. “For Putin, it is very important that big brother China, the senior partner of this friendship, comes to visit him. He already invited it in December and now it’s going to happen’.
No press
“But for Xi it might be a little different. She has to walk on eggshells and maybe she’ll want to exercise a little more caution. That’s probably why there won’t be a press conference. It should take place tomorrow or the day after.’
In the newspaper article, Xi said his trip to Russia was intended to strengthen the friendship between the two countries, “a comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction”, in a world threatened by “acts of hegemony, despotism and intimidation”. “There is no universal model of governance and no world order in which one country has the final say,” Xi wrote.
Follow developments in Ukraine and Russia here on our live blog
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
