Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign several agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on expanding economic and strategic cooperation, as the two countries mark 25 years of a historic friendship treaty.
Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign a number of agreements during the two-day visit, marking a growing closer relationship between the two nations on foreign policy, trade and opposition to what they describe as Western favoritism.
RT looks at where Russia and China converge in international politics.
A Multipolar World
Moscow and Beijing have come closer to the idea of a “multidimensional world” – the international order that they say should no longer be dominated by the West and the United States in particular.
Both countries have accused Washington of abusing sanctions, military alliances, and the international financial system to preserve its dominance, while saying that emerging nations should play a bigger role in international decision-making.
Russia and China have fostered deeper cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, presenting them as alternatives to Western-led institutions and as pillars of a balanced international order.
Taiwan
Russia supports the One China policy, while Beijing sees Taiwan as an inseparable part of China’s territory. While many countries officially follow the policy, continued US military support for Taipei has fueled rising tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in the relationship between China and the United States. Xi spoke last week during President Donald Trump’s long-delayed visit to Beijing, warning that mishandling the issue could lead to “conflicts and conflicts” between the two authorities. The trip had been delayed for several weeks due to the war between the United States and Israel and Iran.
Middle East
Moscow has condemned the attack by the United States and Israel against Iran as “completely baseless aggression.”
Beijing has also condemned the war, warning that fighting and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fueled global energy and economic shocks.
China, a major buyer of Iran’s crude, has lost much of its supply since the US and Israel launched strikes in February. Russia has since increased oil exports to China to help offset the shortfall.
Moscow and Beijing have repeatedly called for the conflict to be resolved through dialogue and a diplomatic solution.
Ukraine
China has made several peace proposals on the Ukraine conflict in recent years, repeatedly urging Moscow and Kiev to resume talks and find a lasting solution that would address the root causes of the conflict.
Russia has described the conflict as a NATO-backed proxy war fueled by the US-led bloc’s expansion into its borders and growing influence over Kiev after a 2014 Western-backed coup.
Moscow has insisted that any lasting peace deal must include Ukraine’s return to a neutral, non-aligned state, as well as the withdrawal of troops and “denazification,” as well as the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from all regions that voted to join Russia in 2022.
