On Wednesday, the leaders of Russia and China held a meeting in Beijing and called for a closer coordination of foreign policies. This comes as concerns rise about potential conflicts with Western nations due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Beijing’s escalating threats against Taiwan.
During their morning meeting, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin discussed trade and the 10th anniversary of Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative, which has resulted in the construction of highways, ports, and power plants across Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. However, this policy has left many nations deeply indebted to Chinese banks. The push to revitalize it comes at a time when China’s own economy has slowed significantly due to excessive real estate investments.
“In the current challenging circumstances, close coordination of foreign policies is particularly essential,” Putin stated in his opening remarks.
He also noted that bilateral trade was set to exceed a record $200 billion this year. China serves as a significant customer for Russian oil and gas, providing Moscow with economic support in the face of severe Western sanctions imposed due to its actions in Ukraine.
Notably, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February, Putin met with Xi in Beijing, and the two leaders signed an agreement pledging an all-encompassing relationship. Beijing’s attempts to position itself as a neutral mediator in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine have been largely dismissed by the international community.
Concurrently, China has increased its military pressure on self-governing Taiwan, an island democracy that it claims as its own and has not ruled out using force to unite with.
