Chinese language chief Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Could 16, 2024 as each international locations search to bolster their strategic relationship. Seen here’s a file photograph of the 2 males after they met in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2023.
Sergei Guneyev | Afp | Getty Photographs
Chinese language chief Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday as each international locations search to bolster their strategic relationship.
Putin’s two-day state go to to China comes on the invitation of Xi and would be the Russian chief’s first overseas journey since he started his fifth time period in workplace final week.
Each international locations have touted their “no-limits” friendship since February 2022, as a counter to the worldwide affect of the U.S.
China has more and more turn into Russia’s lifeline to help its struggle chest because the invasion of Ukraine as Washington continues to tighten the screws on Moscow with extra sanctions.
In an interview with state-media Xinhua revealed forward of the go to, Putin mentioned commerce quantity between the 2 international locations reached $227.8 billion final yr from $111 billion in 2019.
“The current bilateral trade volume is about 20 trillion rubles, or nearly 1.6 trillion yuan,” he famous. That is about $219.6 billion.
Either side intention to deepen cooperation in “high-technology, outer space and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy,” amongst different sectors, Putin added.
China’s tight embrace of Russia has been a thorny subject for the U.S. with Washington warning Beijing to curtail its navy assist for Moscow’s struggle towards Ukraine.
On the commerce entrance, U.S. President Joe Biden this week introduced stiff new tariff charges on $18 billion price of Chinese language imports to guard American industries from what Washington has known as “unfair trade practices” by China.
The mounting financial and diplomatic strain from the U.S. and its allies might power China nearer to Russia, observers have mentioned.
Putin is anticipated to satisfy with Chinese language Premier Li Qiang and journey to the north-eastern metropolis of Harbin for a commerce and funding expo, in line with Russian state media.
That is breaking information. Please examine again for updates.
