Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Moscow next week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening economic and strategic ties between the two countries, as well as coordinating their response to various global challenges.
The meeting will take place on March 22, and will be Xi’s first foreign trip since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese president is expected to discuss a range of issues with Putin, including energy cooperation, regional security, and the global response to the pandemic.
“China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, and our two countries have maintained close communication and coordination on major international and regional issues,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.
Here is the important point of Moscow: Chinese President Xi Jinping to Meet Putin Next Week;
What is the purpose of the meeting?
The meeting comes as both countries are facing mounting tensions with the West Moscow. China is engaged in an ongoing trade war with the United States, while Russia is facing economic sanctions from the European Union and the United States over its involvement in Ukraine and Syria.
However, China and Russia have been deepening their economic and strategic ties in recent years, in part as a response to these external pressures. The two countries have signed a number of agreements in areas such as energy, transportation, and technology, and have also held joint military exercises.
“China and Russia have been cooperating more closely in recent years, and this meeting will be an opportunity to strengthen that cooperation,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center.
The meeting is also expected to focus on the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. China and Russia have both been criticized for their handling of the pandemic, but have also been at the forefront of efforts to develop vaccines and other treatments.
“China and Russia are both major players in the global fight against COVID-19, and their cooperation is crucial to ending the pandemic and ensuring global health security,” said Zhao.
The meeting is likely to produce a number of agreements and joint statements, as well as an announcement of a new round of high-level talks between the two countries. However, Moscow is also expected to be somewhat symbolic, as both countries seek to demonstrate their commitment to their partnership in the face of external pressures.
“China and Russia are sending a message to the world that they are committed to working together, despite the challenges they face,” said Gabuev.
The meeting between Xi and Putin is part of a broader trend of increasing cooperation between China and Russia in recent years. The two countries have been expanding their economic ties, deepening their military cooperation, and working together on a range of global issues, from climate change to nuclear proliferation in Moscow.
“China and Russia are two major powers in the world, and their partnership is crucial to maintaining global stability and promoting international cooperation,” said Zhao. “We look forward to a productive and successful meeting between President Xi and President Putin.”
