BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in Beijing on Tuesday night, where he was greeted by senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, placing the Chinese capital back in the international spotlight just days after US President Donald Trump’s visit.
“China welcomes President Putin’s state visit to China,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun at a press conference on Tuesday, when Chinese and Russian national flags fluttered along several major streets across Beijing.
The visit marks Putin’s 25th trip to China – more than any other incumbent leader of a major country.
Observers said the frequency of such exchanges reflects the depth of China-Russia ties. In a complex and shifting global landscape, the relationship has demonstrated notable resilience, with both sides emphasizing non-alliance, non-confrontation and a commitment not to target third parties – an approach they say supports global stability and a more multipolar international order. In a video address delivered before his state visit to China, Putin said Russia-China relations have reached “a truly unprecedented level,” Xinhua News Agency reported.
Putin also noted that 25 years ago, Russia and China signed the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, which laid a solid foundation for a genuinely strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership for the benefit of the two countries and two peoples.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.
The special nature of Russia-China relations is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to pursuing win-win and equitable cooperation, conducting respectful dialogue, and supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity, he said.
International media have drawn attention to the close and enduring ties between Beijing and Moscow.
In a report on Monday, The Guardian noticed that Putin’s visit to Beijing came just “four days after Donald Trump left China after a high-stakes summit,” adding that the two leaders have met on more than 40 occasions, far outstripping Chinese leaders’ encounters with Western leaders.
The AP reported that the last time Putin visited China, the two heads of state called each other “friend,” and noted Putin is also scheduled to visit China for the APEC summit in the city of Shenzhen in November.
German media DW said that Putin’s visit “highlights China’s influential position in a geopolitical landscape that is increasingly fractured and marked by great power rivalries.”
Some Western media outlets have revived the old narrative of an “alliance” between China and Russia. CNBC, for instance, reported that “Washington is likely to closely monitor what emerges,” reflecting heightened attention from the US side.
On Monday, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Moscow and Beijing “are not allying against anyone,” “we are working together in the name of peace and everyone’s prosperity,” per Tass.
Li Yongquan, director of Eurasian Social Development Research at the Development Research Center of the State Council, said the principle of developing China and Russia ties based on non-alliances, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third country represents the historical wisdom of the experience gained in China-Russia relations.
Guided by this principle, the two countries have forged a model of a new type of major-country relations, which has also exerted a very positive impact on regional security and the global order, the expert said. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
