Putin heads to Beijing days after Trump in test of China’s direction

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, visiting an ally who has barely had time to clear the ceremonial traps he prepared for US President Donald Trump a few days ago.

The summit, scheduled for May 19-20, marks the second time Chinese and Russian leaders have met in the past year at a time when Beijing is trying to manage its ties with Washington and Moscow while positioning itself as a major force in global diplomacy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 effectively isolated Moscow and left it heavily dependent on Beijing for trade under Western sanctions.

“We have a lot serious expectations Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the agenda was described as advancing the two countries’ “privileged and strategic partnership.”

The United States has long pressured Beijing to reduce economic support to Moscow, which Western officials say helps maintain Russia’s military capacity. NATO tagged China “decisive enabler” Regarding the Ukrainian war, reference was made to Chinese companies supplying dual-use goods used to replenish Russian ammunition.

Moscow reduced its growth forecast for this year from 1.3% to 0.4% due to the shakeup of its economy. Ukraine attacks Uncertainty about the oil infrastructure and export terminals that support Russia’s war financing and the future of US sanctions waivers.

Dennis Wilder, a former U.S. intelligence official and Georgetown University professor, said Putin will seek assurances that any improvement in China’s relations with Washington will not alter the “strategic triangle” that keeps China and Russia closer than the United States.

Trump’s visit last week featured a lavish state banquet and delivered a variety of deliverables, including $17 billion in annual agricultural purchases by 2028, a Boeing order for 200 planes and the Chinese leader’s meeting in Washington in September.

Tursa said that Putin’s visit is expected to be more practical within the scope of routine agreements between the two countries. But he added that the size and composition of the Russian delegation showed that Putin hoped to expand bilateral cooperation in many areas.

Chinese state media embraced back-to-back visits regardless. The Global Times described the rankings as evidence that Beijing is “emerging rapidly”. focal point of global diplomacyHe noted that hosting the leaders of both the United States and Russia within a week was “extremely rare in the post-Cold War era.”

Washington will likely watch what unfolds closely.

“If there is significant aid from China to Russia, the United States will probably complain about it,” Kurt Tong, managing partner of The Asia Group, told CNBC’s The China Connection on Monday. he said.

Energy is expected to be at the forefront of the agenda. China became Moscow’s biggest buyer of oil and gas, buying Russian supplies at deep discounts as demand from Europe dropped to 100,000. Lowest levels since mid-1970s.

Beijing has new incentives to lock up Russian supplies as the Strait of Hormuz closure raises energy security concerns across Asia, while Moscow needs revenue to sustain its economy.

Putin’s He gave the signal last week That Russia is close to a “serious” gas and oil deal with China. Speaking at the press conference, Putin said, “We are at a very advanced stage of taking a serious, very solid step in the gas and oil sector” and added: “I will be very pleased if it is possible to complete these and put the final touch during the visit (to China).”

Chinese investment in Russia’s state sector is also expected to be on the table, analysts say. There is bilateral trading rose to record levels With Chinese absorption since 2022 more than a quarter Russia’s exports.