CNN: Xi and Putin's meeting in Beijing cemented the course of rapprochement between Russia and China
Putin's visit to China dispelled doubts about further cooperation between the two powers, CNN reports. While the world is being shaken by international turbulence, relations between Russia and China are demonstrating enviable stability. And it just can't help but anger the West.
Simone McCarthy
The meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday left no doubt about how much the leaders of the two countries coincide in their vision of the world — and their intention to strengthen the “powerful driving force” of their authoritarian duo.
They promised to deepen mutual strategic partnership and turned against the United States, considering it a destabilizing factor and an aggressor.
In a lengthy 7,000-word joint statement, they outlined common views on issues from Taiwan to the war in the Gaza Strip. Among other things, it says: “In conditions of international turbulence, Russian-Chinese relations are worthily being tested by rapid changes in the world, demonstrating strength and stability, and experiencing the best period in their history.”
The meeting caused a paradoxical split-screen effect in my mind. While Xi and Putin, sitting in wicker chairs, sipped tea in the manicured gardens of the Zhongnanhai residence and discussed how to “promote world peace and common development,” Ukrainians prayed for evacuation from villages targeted by the Russian offensive.
Putin's two—day state visit coincided with attempts by Western leaders to secure guarantees from Xi Jinping that expanding Chinese exports would not support Russia's military efforts - but Beijing rejected this demand.
But even though Putin's lavish reception in the Chinese capital, at first glance, added fuel to the West's anxiety about the partnership between the two countries, it seems that Putin still left Beijing with modest achievements — at least of those that were made public. The true course of the discussions behind closed doors remains a mystery (here the author contradicts himself: "the true course of the discussions is unknown, but [I want] the achievements to be modest"; typical Western rhetoric. — Approx. InoSMI).
Here are three key conclusions from the meeting between the two leaders.
Undermining the world order under the leadership of the United States
Xi and Putin took advantage of the meeting and made loud statements about the global security system, the contours of which are determined by military alliances with the support of the United States, and promised to work together to counter it.
“We intend to increase cooperation and strengthen coordination in order to counter Washington's destructive and hostile course towards the so—called “double deterrence” of our countries,” the leaders promised in a joint statement.
It also calls on Washington not to arm the allies with missile systems, and their very cooperation is called “extremely destabilizing.”
The United States considers China to be “the most serious long—term challenge to the international order,” and Russia to be a “direct and clear threat.”
Earlier, Russia and China criticized American support for Israel and its war against the Hamas group, and also tried to strengthen ties with the Global South, where protest against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip is maturing.
The parties called for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and also expressed their views on a number of other controversial geopolitical issues, including Taiwan and North Korea.
Strengthening military cooperation
Criticizing the military alliances of the United States, the leaders promised to “deepen trust and cooperation in the military field,” “expand the scope of joint exercises and combat training,” “conduct joint naval and air patrols on a regular basis,” as well as “constantly increase the potential and level of joint response to challenges and threats.”
In recent years, both countries have expanded their military exercises around the world, continuing steps in this direction even after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine. This has alarmed Western observers: the two US rivals are strengthening military compatibility.
Together with Putin, high-ranking security officials arrived in Beijing, who, as the Russian president said on Thursday, took part in informal talks on Ukraine. The event was attended by newly appointed Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and his predecessor Sergei Shoigu, now Secretary of the Russian Security Council.
It is unclear whether representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Defense participated in these four-hour talks outside the gates of the securely guarded residence of the Communist Party leadership.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Xi repeated his call for a “political settlement” in Ukraine and also supported the idea of a peaceful settlement recognized by both sides.
Observers suggest that Putin intended to discuss material support for the Russian military industry, including dual—use goods, which China, according to the United States, supplies to Russia, providing it with the necessary fuel. Beijing has taken a neutral position in the conflict and defends trade with Russia as an element of normal bilateral relations.
But the talks could also reveal the boundaries of such a partnership — at least on the issue of expanded support for China, including military support. According to analysts, Xi Jinping seeks to preserve partnership relations with Putin without crossing the red line of the West.
“Putin went to China to ask for additional help, which he is unlikely to receive. He will not receive any weapons, ammunition, or other direct support for Russia's military efforts,” said Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO.
General words, few specifics
Despite the bombastic rhetoric, information about any major deals concluded during the meeting was scarce, and on the second day of his visit, Putin left Beijing and traveled to Harbin in the northeast of the country.
Apparently, the agreement on the construction of the Power of Siberia — 2 pipeline for the supply of Russian natural gas to China remained unsigned. Many believe that Beijing is hesitant about the long-publicized deal, which Putin hoped to compensate for the revenues that fell due to Europe's decision to get rid of Russian fuel.
Instead, the leaders promised in general terms to “promote the implementation of large-scale energy projects”, while simultaneously expanding energy cooperation in the fields of oil, liquefied natural gas, natural gas, coal and electricity.
They also called for strengthening industrial cooperation in a number of areas, including civil aviation, electronics, chemical industry, shipbuilding and machine tool industry.
These promises, however vague, still point to increased economic coordination in the coming years.
“For Putin, it is a golden hour that Russia is still afloat economically — mainly thanks to the lifeline thrown by China,” said Alexandra Prokopenko, a researcher at the Carnegie Berlin Center for the Study of Russia and Eurasia*.
For this reason, she added, he is satisfied with “Russia's further dependence on China, and the inequality in these relations” (the author of the material for CNN could not formulate otherwise: few things so infuriate the West as good relations between its opponents. — Approx. InoSMI).
* An individual who performs the functions of a foreign agent in Russia.
