Why Is Putin Rushing Back to China Again?
News Desk
Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host Russian President Vladimir Putin this week as Beijing seeks to present itself as a stable global power amid growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
Putin’s two-day visit, his 25th trip to China, comes less than a week after former US President Donald Trump made a high-profile diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening ties with Beijing. Chinese and Russian officials have described the Xi-Putin meeting as another sign of their “all-weather” strategic partnership despite mounting Western pressure over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Analysts say the summit is intended to signal that relations between China and Russia remain strong and resistant to attempts by Washington to divide the two powers. Both leaders are expected to discuss regional security, trade cooperation and energy agreements during the visit.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/trump-xi-agree-on-stability-but-clash-in-public-statements/
Energy is likely to dominate talks, particularly the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, which would increase Russian gas exports to China. Moscow has been seeking deeper energy ties with Beijing as Western sanctions continue to restrict Russia’s access to global markets.
China, meanwhile, is balancing its strategic partnership with Russia while trying to reassure Western trading partners that it remains a reliable economic power. Beijing has repeatedly said it supports dialogue on Ukraine and denies supplying lethal weapons to either side in the conflict.
The meeting also comes at a time of global energy uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in oil markets. China remains Russia’s largest buyer of oil, with many transactions increasingly conducted in Chinese yuan rather than US dollars.
Russian officials have expressed optimism that the visit could produce major progress in oil and gas cooperation, although analysts believe pricing negotiations over new pipeline projects may still take years to finalise.
