China’s leader is in Russia for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin want to challenge US dominance in global affairs and reshape the world order.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin rolled out the red carpet for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday as the latter arrived at the Kremlin.
In a cavernous reception hall, the whole world watched as the two leaders approached each other from what felt like a distance of 100 meters.
Numerous cameras captured the moment: Waving, smiling and shaking hands — just about everything that goes with the courtesy of state visits.
The images are highly symbolic.
Russia is internationally isolated as a result of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court has even issued an arrest warrant against Putin.
The Russian president needs allies, and only a few can match the power and influence of Xi.
The Chinese president is in Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
More than 20 other foreign dignitaries, including leaders from Cuba, Venezuela and Mongolia, among others, were in Red Square for the event.
From Europe, only Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico took part.
Xi’s visit to Moscow and meeting with Putin is expected to send a signal to people in Russia and around the world that the Russian president is not alone and is respected by allies, at least by the Chinese president.
Shared interests
In economic terms, however, Russia’s entire gross domestic product is only a notch higher than that of China’s economically strongest province, Guangdong.
China is also investing heavily in future technologies such as artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing, while Russia’s growth is still being fueled by the defense industry and raw materials. Western sanctions against Russia have also dampened its attractiveness as a trade partner for countries worldwide.
Despite the widening disparity in their economic might, China and Russia — both permanent members of the UN Security Council — share geopolitical interests. The two countries want a new world order that’s no longer dominated by the US.
Vision uniting Xi and Putin
“Beijing for now continues to view Moscow as an indispensable strategic partner,” said Claus Soong, analyst at the Berlin-based China think tank MERICS. “In China’s broader geopolitical calculus, the deepening partnership with Russia extends beyond the Ukraine conflict. Russia is a useful partner to gather the Global South in support of building an alternative global order to counter Western dominance.”
China and Russia need to “firmly defend the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law,” Xi said after arriving in Moscow, according to a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry.
“The two countries need to enhance solidarity, safeguard true multilateralism and steer global governance towards the right direction,” he added.
At the meeting with Putin on Thursday, Xi’s stance became clearer, saying that China and Russia “will shoulder the responsibility” to defend international fairness and justice.
China eyes the top spot
Chinese officials blame US President Donald Trump’s trade policies, which they view as erratic and shortsighted, for causing global economic turmoil and increasing geopolitical tensions.
They believe the time is right to challenge the US’ dominant position in the world, or at least to lay the foundations for China to take the top spot.
US-China rivalry has intensified in recent months, with both countries slapping tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s products.
Both Trump and Xi find themselves boxed in by their own rhetoric and nationalist pride. Neither seems willing to yield an inch and risk appearing weak, making it tough to find compromise.
It has certainly not escaped China’s attention that Putin and Trump have already spoken directly to each other by phone twice this year.
During the meeting with Xi, Putin announced that he would visit Beijing at the end of August and the beginning of September to celebrate the victory over Japanese aggressors in Asia 80 years ago.
China is planning to hold a grand military parade to mark the event.
“We are developing our strategic relations for the benefit of the people in both countries,” Putin said on Thursday, “but not against third parties.”
‘Same bed with different dreams’
“The China-Russia alignment is aptly described by the Chinese saying, ‘sharing the same bed with similar, yet different dreams,'” MERICS expert Soong said.
“Their ‘no-limits’ partnership clearly has limits that are shaped by shifting geopolitical realities, shaped by their respective relations with the West, united or not,” he added. “Beijing likes to reaffirm this ‘no-limits’ partnership with Moscow in order to prevent Moscow from moving closer to the Trump administration.”
Furthermore, Xi wants to secure Russia’s unconditional support, including military support, in the event of an armed conflict with Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island over which Beijing claims sovereignty and vows to take over, with force if necessary.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/xi-meets-putin-as-china-russia-strive-for-new-world-order/a-72491824
