Putin in China

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 16 May 2024 by Alex Teddy

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On May 16 he landed in Beijing and met his Chinese opposite number. This is a state visit: the supreme expression of cordial relations between sovereign states. It is Putin's first trip abroad since his re-election in March 2024. It signifies the importance he attaches to relations with China. There was a long closed-door meeting between the two heads of state. Putin took a delegation with him that included the former Defense Minister Shoigu. China has been Russia's main trade partner for over a decade. Since 2022 China's importance to Russia has grown all the greater. Russia is so eager to keep China on side that it has sold oil and gas to China at often 30% below market prices.  President Xi hailed the longstanding friendship between the two nations in his welcome address. Western countries are threatening more extensive secondary sanctions against China for supplying dual use items to Russia. Semiconductors and machine tools from China have been vital in sustaining the Russian war effort. China has made some efforts to prevent the sale of such items. But Western governments say this is merely cosmetic. China and Russia trade with each other by paying ever more in RUB and RMB. Western hopes that China would use its sway with Moscow to convince Russia to end the war have proven to be misplaced. However, Putin said in May 2024 that he is open to negotiation. On May 16 he said there is a political solution to the war but this requires reasonableness from Ukraine. Ukraine's position remains that they will only talk once all Russian troops have left the country including Crimea. If Ukraine were to win, this would be fillip to the West. A defeat for Russia would weaken Chi...