China's President Xi Jinping has expressed firm support for Russia's "core interests" during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, underscoring the deepening economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations. Despite China's claim of neutrality in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the cooperation between Beijing and Moscow has been growing stronger in recent years. Mishustin's visit to China, the highest-level visit since the invasion of Ukraine last year, aims to further enhance the bilateral relationship. President Xi assured Mishustin that China would continue to provide unwavering support on issues pertaining to each other's core interests and strengthen collaboration in multilateral arenas.
The Russian Prime Minister acknowledged the unprecedented high level of relations between the two countries, emphasizing mutual respect for each other's interests and the shared desire to address challenges arising from increased turbulence in the international arena and the pressure of sanctions imposed by the West. The comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia was hailed as Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier, expressed confidence that Mishustin's visit would leave a deep impression. Trade between China and Russia reached a record $190 billion last year, making China Russia's largest trading partner. Bilateral trade has already exceeded $70 billion this year, with a year-on-year increase of over 40%. The two countries also signed agreements on service trade cooperation, sports, patents, and Russian millet exports to China, further solidifying their economic cooperation.
With China's dominance in the relationship and Moscow's increasing international isolation, experts suggest that shared grievances and insecurities unite the leaders of both countries rather than shared goals. They both resent Western leadership in the international system and seek greater deference on issues concerning their interests. China's influence in Russia is growing, particularly as it becomes Russia's top energy customer amid declining gas exports due to Western sanctions. As the leaders of China and Russia aim to counterbalance Western influence, their cooperation is driven by a mutual sense of threat and a desire for a more prominent role on the global stage.
