China and Russia strengthen their alliance – Politics

On the second day of the Chinese state visit to Moscow, both presidents continued to emphasize the friendship between their nations. Xi Jinping and Wladimir Putin signed an agreement to expand their strategic partnership until 2030. Economic cooperation is set to grow, and Putin pledged to provide China with reliable oil and gas supplies. Russia’s companies are able to meet the Chinese economy’s growing demand for energy, Putin said. By 2030, the gas supply should increase to almost 100 billion cubic meters annually, and 100 million tons of liquid gas, coal and nuclear fuel would also be supplied.

Xi invited Putin to “visit China as soon as possible”. An invitation that comes at just the right time for the Russian President. After the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes last week, Putin can now show that he can still travel and that he has strong allies. China does not recognize the criminal court, but in 123 countries, including Germany, Putin is now threatened with arrest as soon as he enters national territory.

For China, the close ties are too Russia however, a tightrope walk. On the one hand, Beijing wants Moscow as a partner against the West, but at the same time Xi seems careful not to alienate the West. The two heads of state spoke for several hours on Monday about the war, but it is not known exactly what was discussed. The Chinese foreign ministry said Tuesday that there had been an “in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue.” According to Russia’s Ria agency, Xi said Beijing’s position was “impartial” and China supported “peace and dialogue.”

Also China’s peace plan for the Ukraine, which initially provides for a ceasefire, had been discussed and there had been a “thorough” exchange of views. Putin called China’s proposals on Tuesday a possible basis for a peace solution. However, Ukraine and the West must be ready for this, he says. But the West wants to fight “to the last Ukrainian.” Russia is ready for peace talks. Both statements imply that Xi and Putin did not agree on everything, although Beijing has never publicly criticized the Russian attack on Ukraine.

It is not known when Xi’s announced phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will take place, apparently not in Kiev either: “I don’t know, we’re waiting for confirmation,” said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Wereschuk on Tuesday. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized that China had not used the opportunity to influence Putin.

Xi’s three-day state visit is of immense importance to Moscow. Because of the economic sanctions and its increasing isolation, Russia is dependent on cooperation with China not only politically but also economically. A meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday is said to have been about investment projects in both countries and a land corridor for the delivery of grain and other agricultural products from Russia to China.

Parallel to the meeting in Moscow, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was expected in Kiev on Tuesday to pledge Tokyo’s continued support to Ukraine ahead of a G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May. Kishida comes straight from India, where he delivered a speech condemning Russia’s war of aggression and is said to have tried to get Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a tougher stance on Moscow.