Russia and China deepen strategic partnership

During a state visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping published a joint declaration outlining a far-reaching vision for bilateral relations between the two countries. The occasion was the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. As IntelliNews reported, Putin's trip came just days after US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing. Trump had sought to open Chinese markets more to US companies and to encourage China to play a more active role in resolving the Iran conflict, but failed to make significant progress. The Sino-Russian declaration follows on from a joint essay of around 8,000 words that Putin and Xi published last year. In it, they outline their vision of a multipolar world order that challenges the Western-dominated status quo that has existed since the end of the Second World War. At the heart of this vision is the view that the Global South should gain increasing influence and participate on an equal footing in shaping international politics. Each country should be able to determine its own internal affairs, while international cooperation should be based on mutual respect. At the same time, both countries criticize sanctions, political interference and protectionist trade practices. Common position against Western influence At the meeting, Xi Jinping was particularly clear about the tensions between China and the USA. He referred to the so-called "Thucydides Trap" and warned of an escalation if China's efforts with regard to Taiwan were hindered. Against this backdrop, Xi and Putin emphasized that relations between their countries had now reached the "highest level in history". The partnership is largely independent of external pressure and is based on the principles of sovereignty, non-interference and the common pursuit of a multipolar world order. In the joint declaration, both sides reaffirmed their rejection of unilateral sanctions that are not legitimized by the UN Security Council. They also criticized various Western security and economic structures, which in their view contribute to geopolitical tensions. Another focus of the agreement is on intensifying military cooperation. Additional joint exercises, air and sea patrols and closer security policy coordination are planned. However, both governments emphasize that their partnership is not directed against third countries. Trade and investment continue to grow Economic cooperation is also to be expanded further. The bilateral trade volume reached around 240 billion US dollars last year. In comparison: after the collapse of the Soviet Union, mutual trade in the early 1990s was only around 5 billion US dollars. Russia and China are planning more intensive cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, energy, logistics, finance and future technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. Both countries also want to expand the use of their national currencies in bilateral trade in order to reduce their dependence on the US dollar. However, the expected breakthrough in the energy sector failed to materialize. During his visit, Putin had hoped to reach an agreement on the construction of the "Power of Siberia 2" gas pipeline, which is to supply Russian natural gas from western Siberia to China. However, the negotiations continued to fail due to differing ideas about prices and delivery volumes. Nevertheless, both sides reaffirmed their intention to intensify cooperation in the areas of oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy and renewable energies. In addition, work on the Tianwan and Xudapu nuclear power plant projects is to be continued. Focus on Eurasian transport and infrastructure projects Moscow and Beijing also attach great importance to the expansion of transportation and logistics links. Investments are planned in rail links between China and Europe via Russian territory, the further development of the Northern Sea Route and the expansion of border infrastructure. These projects are intended to create alternative trade routes and reduce dependence on maritime routes. In particular, the recent tensions in the Middle East and the temporary blockade of important sea routes have underlined the importance of land-based transport corridors. The most important projects include the Russia-Mongolia-China Economic Corridor, the Europe-West China Corridor and the further development of the New Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative). In addition to the economy and infrastructure, both countries agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of education, science, culture, healthcare, media and tourism. In addition, visa facilitation is to be further expanded in order to promote exchange between the populations. Joint position on international conflicts The declaration also contains numerous foreign policy positions. Both countries criticize NATO's eastward expansion, various US missile defence projects and security alliances such as AUKUS. They also speak out against unilateral sanctions, the confiscation of assets and trade restrictions. Russia reaffirmed its support for the one-China principle and rejects any independence for Taiwan. China, in turn, expressed understanding for Russia's positions on national sovereignty and external interference. With regard to the war in Ukraine, both states are calling for negotiations and a political solution to the conflict. Moscow praised what it described as Beijing's balanced and objective stance. In addition, Russia and China signaled broad agreement on numerous regional issues, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, the Korean peninsula, the Gaza Strip, Africa, Latin America and the Arctic. Although the declaration does not establish a formal alliance, it illustrates the ongoing strategic rapprochement between the two states. While Moscow and Beijing continue to emphasize that they are not seeking to form a classic bloc, the scope and depth of their cooperation point to a long-term partnership that is increasingly influencing the global geopolitical order. The post Russia and China deepen strategic partnership appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.