Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday that President Xi Jinping would hold a virtual meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, the second meeting between the two leaders in the past six weeks.
On May 19, the duo participated in the opening ceremony of the nuclear energy cooperation project between the two countries, marking the launch of construction on new Russia-designed nuclear power units at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and the Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant in China. The project is the biggest China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation project to date.
The timing of Monday’s meeting is significant as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Russia-China Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and comes just days before the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates its centennial. Referring to this auspicious timing in their relations, a press statement released on the Kremlin website reported that the two leaders will also “exchange congratulations and evaluate the current state of and prospects for strategic partnership between Russia and China.” It added that they would also “discuss current issues on the bilateral and international agenda.” Any other details of their meeting agenda are not public yet.
Coincidentally, this meeting comes after the Russian leader’s widely publicised meeting with United States (US) President Joe Biden, held less than two weeks ago. In contrast to the warm relations Moscow enjoys with Beijing, Putin said his meeting with Biden came at a time when US-Russia bilateral ties had “deteriorated to [their] lowest point in recent years.” During the meeting in Geneva, Biden demanded that Russia “fulfil its international human rights obligations and commitments,” “end its systematic crackdown on independent civil society and media,” and bring a halt to its cyberattacks.
On Sunday, Chinese government-owned media house Global Times quoted Yang Jin, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying: “While the US had tried to lobby Russia to curb China, the online meeting between the Chinese and top Russian leaders would convey great significance, delivering a clear message to the world about their unwavering strategic partnership, which won’t be affected by external factors.”
In another explicit hint of the friendly relations between Moscow and Beijing, Putin made positive remarks on China-Russia ties ahead of his meeting with Biden during an NBC interview. He said, “We have developed a strategic partnership relationship between Russia and China that previously had not been achieved in the history of our nations, a high level of trust and cooperation in all areas, including in politics, economy, technology and military.”
Monday’s meeting is expected to further strengthen ties between Xi and Putin as Washington watches with unease.
What To Expect: Xi and Putin To Meet Virtually Today
During their second interaction in six weeks, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss further avenues for strategic cooperation.
June 28, 2021
SOURCE: DOMINIQUE JACOVIDES/AFP/GETTY IMAGES