Putin state visit to China reflects strengthening of Sino-Russia ties amid US pressure
Russian head of state to attend regional security group meeting in Qingdao
Just a month after beginning his new term in office, Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to China for a state visit, underscoring how mounting pressure from the United States is drawing the two countries increasingly close.
Responding to US national security strategy that describes them as American’s top adversaries, Russia and China have vowed to further expand their economic, political and military cooperation. They have also sought to strengthen the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional grouping they created.
Beijing and Moscow’s rapprochement is driven by a strong personal relationship between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, seen as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. The two have met 25 times – five times last year alone, according to Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov. Putin’s visit begins on Friday.
Underlining his close personal relationship with Xi, Putin told a Chinese state broadcaster in an interview aired on Wednesday that the Chinese president is the only world leader whom he once invited to celebrate his birthday.
“I’ll be frank with you, I hope he won’t be angry at me: we had a shot of vodka and had some sausages at the end of a workday,” Putin said. He praised Xi as a “comfortable partner, a good and reliable friend.”
