Vladimir Putin Celebrates Record Trade Between Russia and China
According to the Russian president, trade exchanges with China now exceed $200 billion per year.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping continue their meeting in China, the whole world is watching to see what their self-proclaimed “no limits” partnership will mean for the future of Ukraine.
Xi and Putin have concluded a long-term agreement that provides for annual visits to each other’s countries; the Chinese president was welcomed at the Kremlin last year.
The two heads of state are focusing on trade and cultural exchanges during this second day of Vladimir Putin’s visit to China.
“Building on the traditions of friendship and cooperation, we can look to the future with confidence,” Putin declared during a China-Russia exhibition in Harbin, a city in the northeast of the country. “The Russian-Chinese partnership contributes to the economic growth of our countries, ensures energy security, helps develop production, and creates new jobs,” he added.
Although it is unlikely that Putin’s visit will lead to concrete proposals or announcements, Xi and Putin are striving to demonstrate their solid relationship as the United States and other powers continue to sanction Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has increasingly relied on China due to Western sanctions. Trade exchanges between the two countries reached $240 billion last year, with China helping its neighbor mitigate the worst effects of Western sanctions.
This week, Putin thanked Xi for China’s proposals to end the war, while Xi stated that China hopes for a swift return to peace and stability in Europe and will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Last year, China proposed a broad peace plan that did not ask Russia to leave the occupied parts of Ukraine. This plan was rejected by Ukraine and the West.
Although the notion of a peaceful resolution to the conflict was frequently mentioned during Thursday’s discussions, Russia opened a new front in the war by launching attacks in its northeastern border zone.
The war is at a critical point for Ukraine, which is trying to resupply its forces after experiencing delays in obtaining weapons from the United States.
European leaders have pressured China to ask Russia to end its invasion, but to no avail. According to a report by U.S. intelligence services, China is likely to provide Russian forces with equipment, including drones and spare parts for fighter jets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reaffirmed their “no limits” partnership on Thursday, which has strengthened as both countries face increasing tensions with the West. Both criticized U.S. military alliances in Asia and the Pacific region.
During their summit in Beijing, Putin thanked Xi for China’s proposals to end the war in Ukraine.
These proposals were rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies, who believed they largely followed the Kremlin’s line.
Putin’s two-day state visit to one of his main allies and trading partners comes as Russian forces are launching an offensive in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, in the most significant border incursion since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Neutral Position
China claims to adopt a neutral position in the conflict but has supported the Kremlin’s assertions that Russia was provoked by the West to attack Ukraine and continues to provide key components that Moscow needs for arms production.
China, which has not criticized the invasion, proposed a broadly formulated peace plan in 2023, calling for a ceasefire and direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv. This plan was rejected by Ukraine and the West because it did not call for Russia to leave the occupied parts of Ukraine.
The visit, largely symbolic and ceremonial, emphasized the partnership between two countries facing challenges in their relations with the United States and Europe.
“Both parties want to show that despite what is happening in the world and the pressure they are under from the United States, they are not ready to turn their backs on each other,” said Hoo Tiang Boon, who studies Chinese foreign policy at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
While Putin and Xi have stated they seek to end the war, they have not made new proposals in their public statements.
“China hopes that Europe will quickly regain peace and stability and will continue to play a constructive role in this regard,” Xi said in a prepared speech for the media at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
His remarks echoed what China stated when it offered a broad plan for peace.
Earlier in the day, Putin was welcomed at Tiananmen Square with great military pomp, including cannon salutes.
