Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China this week, the latest sign of deepening strategic ties.
At the invitation of Xi Jinping, Putin will pay a two-day state visit to China starting on Thursday announced Tuesday. This will be the Russian leader’s first overseas trip since taking office. Putin begins fifth term last week.
The Kremlin has become increasingly dependent on China for trade and political support as it seeks to bolster its power. “Unlimited” partnership Cooperate with Beijing in all aspects.
“It’s been clear over the past two years that Putin wants three things from China,” Max Hess, a fellow at the Institute for Foreign Policy Research, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Wednesday.
He wants to make a “deal” The power of siberia 2 Gas pipelines and seeking further Chinese support for the war in Ukraine, especially in terms of hardware, he added. Hess said Putin also wants to access China’s financial markets and use “the yuan to promote trade with Russia.”
“We really haven’t seen any progress on any of these things,” he added. “So Putin is really going to China to see what he can get.”
Installation pressure
in a Interviewed by the official Xinhua News Agency In his speech before the visit, Putin said that the rapid development of Russia-China economic and trade relations “demonstrates the two countries’ continued ability to respond to external challenges and crises.”
He also supported China’s peace proposals regarding the war in Ukraine and said Russia remained open to resolving the conflict.
Beijing released 12 o’clock plan More than a year ago, it provided vague principles for ending the war in Ukraine.The plan was not Well received Ukraine and Western Allies.
“Putin is here to stay in Ukraine for the long term. He has no plans to give up on that,” Hess said, adding that the Russian leader was trying to “play to his advantage” on the battlefield and on the diplomatic front with China. .
The pressure is mounting on China as it faces growing pressure from Washington over its military support for Russia.
The Biden administration announced tough new tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports on Tuesday to protect U.S. industry from unfair competition.
As a result, observers say, Beijing has no choice but to move closer to Moscow.
“Just look at Biden’s 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle exports. All of this is sending a message to the Chinese: No matter who is elected in November, the United States is trying to contain them,” said political scientist and Ian Bremmer, President Eurasia Group said Comment.
“I think in the long run, the more they see from the United States and its allies, the closer they end up being with Russia.”
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