Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his visit to China, seeking stronger support from Beijing for his military campaign in Ukraine and bolstering trade with Russia's increasingly isolated economy.
The Russia-China partnership has deepened since the Ukraine invasion. While Beijing denies aiding Moscow's war effort, it provides a critical economic lifeline, with trade reaching $240 billion in 2023. On Friday, Putin visited Harbin, highlighting bilateral "trade and cultural exchange," according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
On Thursday, Putin arrived in Beijing for his first international trip since his March re-election, meeting President Xi Jinping. The leaders portrayed their nations' relationship as a stabilizing force globally. They discussed the Ukraine crisis, with Xi reaffirming China's stance and efforts for a political resolution.
China has not supplied weapons to Russia, and its peace proposal from last year faced criticism from Ukraine and Western allies. Despite claims of a limitless partnership, Alexey Muraviev, an expert in national security and strategic studies at Curtin University, noted that the absence of a formal alliance indicates limitations. He remarked that neither nation is willing to unconditionally support the other on issues like Ukraine.
Xi committed to working with Putin for steady progress and benefits for their people, contributing to global security and stability. Meanwhile, Western countries continue to pressure China to cut economic ties with Russia as the Ukraine conflict persists.
In Harbin, a key hub for cross-border trade, Putin promoted energy cooperation at the Russia-China trade exposition, emphasizing Russia's capability to supply China with affordable, clean energy. He later stated that Russia's military actions in Ukraine's Kharkiv region aim to create a buffer zone, with no plans to capture it. Russian forces have made gains in the region, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the challenging situation but maintained it was under control. Putin asserted that Russian troops were advancing daily as planned.
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