Mayur MohtaAs Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for a high-stakes two-day visit, analysts say the trip will be far smoother than Donald Trump’s recent China meeting. Decades of deepening Sino-Russian friendship described as “boundless” by both leaders are set to produce nearly 40 bilateral agreements covering energy, industry, and more.
Putin Lands in Beijing and the West Watches Nervously
Russian President Vladimir Putin has touched down in China for a two-day official state visit at the personal invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit is already drawing anxious attention from Western capitals, with observers noting it could deliver far more substance than Donald Trump’s own recent trip to Beijing.
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Spain’s leading publication Público put it bluntly. “The nature of the bilateral documents Putin and Xi Jinping will sign is not yet known but it is clear this visit will be free of the contentious moments that marked the Chinese leader’s meeting with Trump, if only because of the Taiwan issue,” the outlet noted.
A Friendship the West Can’t Ignore
Xi Jinping and Putin have long celebrated what they call a “boundless friendship” between Russia and China a bond that has only grown stronger in recent years. Both leaders have repeatedly highlighted this closeness, and the upcoming summit is expected to reinforce it further.
The Kremlin described the visit’s schedule as packed. Russia’s delegation traveling to Beijing is notably large and high-ranking. The two sides are preparing to sign close to 40 documents a mix of state-level agreements and commercial deals. These cover deeper cooperation in manufacturing, transportation, nuclear energy, and humanitarian exchanges.
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Energy Deals and the Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline
Beyond the broad diplomatic agenda, Putin and Xi Jinping are expected to dig deep into hydrocarbon cooperation. The much-anticipated Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project sits high on the agenda a deal that would dramatically expand Russia’s energy ties with China. The leaders will also survey the full range of bilateral relations, touching on the most sensitive shared concerns, while exchanging views on key international and regional issues.
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The West has long watched the Russia-China partnership with unease. Putin’s China visit coming right after Trump’s own Beijing trip only sharpens that anxiety. Where Trump’s meeting with Xi was reportedly clouded by friction over Taiwan and trade, Putin’s stop in Beijing is expected to generate none of that friction. The contrast could hardly be more striking.
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Akshay Didwaniya
Aditya Didwaniya