Analyst Claims Putin Desires Three Things from Xi to Strengthen Russia-China Relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China this week is the latest sign of the deepening strategic ties between both sides.
The upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is being seen as a further display of the growing strategic alliance between the two nations.
Putin's first international trip since beginning his fifth term in office will see him travel to China for a two-day state visit this week. The invitation by Xi comes as Russia has increasingly leaned on China for trade and political support. There's also the strengthening of a "no limits" partnership across various platforms.
Max Hess, a fellow from the Foreign Policy Research Institute, revealed Putin's key expectations from China: a favourable deal for the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline, added Chinese support for Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict, and access to Chinese financial markets. Despite these desires, Hess noted that progress has been minimal. Putin is also endorsing China's peace proposal for the Ukraine war and states that Russia will be open for dialogue regarding conflict resolution.
Despite this, the 12-point plan proposed by Beijing over a year ago - which set out basic principles for ending the Ukraine war - was met with a lukewarm response from Ukraine and Western allies. Meanwhile, China finds itself under increasing pressure from the US for its military support of Russia, particularly as the Biden administration announces new tariff rates on Chinese imports. With few options remaining, many believe that Beijing will only move closer to Moscow.
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