Ahead of Vladimir Putin’s impending visit to Beijing, he and Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory letters on Sunday, underscoring the enduring partnership between Russia and China. This visit follows closely on the heels of Donald Trump’s departure from China after a significant summit, drawing attention due to the rare back-to-back hosting of US and Russian leaders by China. The visit also marks the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two nations, which has reportedly deepened over the years, according to Chinese state media.
Putin is set to arrive in China on Tuesday evening, with a meeting scheduled with Xi on Wednesday morning. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov indicated that the discussions will encompass various aspects of bilateral relations, including the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. This project is significant as it would add 50 billion cubic meters of capacity to the energy network between the two countries, further solidifying their energy cooperation.
The strengthening ties between China and Russia have been met with concern in Western capitals, especially after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. China’s economic and diplomatic backing has been seen as a factor sustaining the conflict, with bilateral trade between the two nations reaching unprecedented levels. China has accounted for over a quarter of Russia’s exports, significantly contributing to Moscow’s revenue through large purchases of Russian crude oil and other fossil fuels since the conflict began.
During Trump’s recent talks with Xi, neither the Ukraine war nor the Sino-Russian relationship appeared to be major topics of conversation. Instead, the US-China dialogue focused more on trade, the Taiwan issue, and the Middle East conflict. Trump emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, an issue on which he found agreement with Xi. However, Xi warned about potential conflict over Taiwan, with Trump yet to decide on a significant arms deal with the self-governing island, a decision that could impact US-China relations.
Analysts suggest that Taiwan might be an underlying theme in the upcoming Xi-Putin meeting. Joseph Webster from the Atlantic Council highlighted that Beijing might be aiming to secure more fossil fuel agreements with Moscow to bolster its energy security in the event of a Taiwan-related conflict. The expansion of Russian oil pipeline capacity to China would enhance Beijing’s energy security, a strategic consideration as tensions surrounding Taiwan continue to simmer.