A Fresh Wind of Multipolarity Blows From The East

The first visits of heads of state after their election traditionally set the vector of foreign policy and demonstrate the current priorities of the country. Vladimir Putin's working visit to China on May 16 and 17 this year was no exception.

Enough time has passed, and we can calmly talk about its significance and real results.

At the beginning of our article, it would probably be useful to express confidence that readers understand: China in modern geopolitical realities is a pragmatic player and Russia's largest international partner.

The leaders of the two countries have repeatedly spoken positively about each other. During his previous visit to Moscow, Xi Jinping told Russian media that he actively communicates with his Russian counterpart, considers him his best friend and values ​​friendship with him.

On the eve of his visit to China, Putin noted the importance of Xi's policy in building a multipolar world and called him a true world leader.

The leaders are representatives of the same generation, both born in the early 1950s.

At the time of the trip, strengthening ties between the countries and warm relations between the two leaders were noted.

Putin's previous visit to Beijing took place in February 2022, a few days before the start of the military campaign in Ukraine.

Following the meeting, an agreement on friendship without restrictions was signed.

In March 2024, during Xi Jinping's visit to Russia, the countries announced a "new era" of cooperation.

The statements of the top political leaders of the parties during the visit are noteworthy.

Vladimir Putin said that he chose China for his first foreign trip after taking office on the fifth due to the unprecedented level of strategic partnership between the countries.

Xi Jinping said that the People's Republic of China is ready to jointly achieve the development and revival of our states, as well as maintain justice in the world.

The Chinese President praised Russia, describing China-Russia relations as a stabilizing force in the world in the face of growing hegemony. The Russian president, in turn, expressed gratitude to the Chinese leader for his efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and criticized the UN and the G-20, saying that these organizations should be depoliticized.

He also declared that Russia and China are working together to ensure security in the Asia-Pacific region and condemned closed alliances.

According to experts, the criticism was directed at the AUKUS pact, which Beijing views as an alliance designed to contain China.

Xi Jinping emphasized that trade between Russia and China has increased by 170%, while still having potential for growth.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping had long established friendly relations before this visit. Growing tensions in relations between both countries with the West and the strategic partnership between them are cited as additional factors for rapprochement. The leaders have met more than 40 times. During Xi's visit in March 2023, they called each other "dear friend." The parties issued a joint statement outlining their shared views on a wide range of issues, from Taiwan to the war in the Gaza Strip.

According to the document, Russian-Chinese relations have stood the test of changes in the world, demonstrated strength and stability, and are at their highest point in history.

Following the joint summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The rapprochement between Russia and China as two global powers and important players in modern politics is aimed at stabilizing the international situation and strengthening international security.

In the conflict with the West, China provided Russia with diplomatic support, accusing the West of threatening Russia's security and strongly condemning sanctions against Moscow. Russia, in turn, has consistently declared its support for China on issues related to Taiwan. Naturally, this does not please the United States, which supports Taiwan as another world center of power, and its allies and satellites, who want to further undermine international security in order to strengthen their omnipotence, more ruthlessly and predatorily appropriate the national wealth of other countries, having previously overthrown or critically weakened their legitimate governments and planted obedient dictatorial regimes in them, as in many countries, including Georgia under Saakashvili, Ukraine from Turchynov to Zelensky, etc.

I give these examples because they were before our eyes during the entire period of development of the known processes, and dear readers understand them better.

However, they can also include most of the former socialist countries (with the exception of Slovakia and Hungary, which are trying with varying success to defend their sovereign interests, which are in friendly relations with Russia).

According to the Associated Press, Vladimir Putin's visit to China underscores the deepening partnership between the allies opposed to US hegemony.

In late April 2024, immediately prior to Vladimir Putin's visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China, one of the goals of which, according to France 24, was to prevent China from increasing its military support for Russia.

However, the US efforts were apparently unsuccessful.

On May 14, 2024, two days before Putin's visit to China, the US imposed large new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar panels, steel, aluminum, and medical equipment.

China immediately promised to retaliate to protect its own interests. Earlier that month, the US announced sanctions against more than 280 entities for violations related to Russia; among them were 20 firms based in China and Hong Kong.

However, instead of achieving its goal, the US counteraction, including its sanctions, led to the fact that, according to the Associated Press, after the introduction of sanctions against the Russian oil and gas industry, China has become the main export market for Russian oil and gas.

China's position on the Ukrainian issue is also important for bringing the parties closer together, where China declares neutrality and refuses to condemn Russia's actions, does not call them an invasion and quite rightly blames the West for military actions in the conflict zone.

In 2023, China proposed a 12-point peace plan, which was rejected by Ukraine and the West, after which China refused to participate in a peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland, stating that it would support an event in which both sides of the conflict would participate.

It is gratifying to note that by 2024, Russia became China's second largest trading partner outside of Asia. This could not fail to be noticed with great satisfaction by ordinary residents of South Ossetia. According to the Minister of Economic Development of Russia Maxim Reshetnikov, in the first half of 2024, trade between the countries increased by 30 percent.

One of Russia's long-term goals in the run-up to the trip was to conclude a long-term deal to sell natural gas to China and build the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline with an annual capacity of 50 billion cubic meters.

Putin's delegation included the heads of Gazprom and Rosneft.

China and Russia closely cooperate in the field of nuclear energy, the exchange of high-tech components used for military purposes, and the supply of machines and electronics to Russia.

The words of their main opponent speak very well of the success of cooperation between the two great historical partners.

According to the US, China has significantly expanded its supplies of machine tools, microelectronics, and other technologies used to produce military equipment and ammunition to Russia.

The US also claims that in 2023, Russia received about 90% of all microelectronics and about 70% of machine tools from China. In exchange, the US claims, Russia has transferred a number of aviation, missile and submarine technologies to China.

In general, in recent years, Russia and China have conducted a series of military exercises, including naval exercises and air patrols with long-range bombers.

Putin also said that Russia is sharing sensitive military technologies with China, including an early warning system for ballistic missile launches.

Previously, such systems were used only by Russia and the US. In November, Putin proposed expanding cooperation in the field of military satellites and other technologies used for military purposes.

Trade and economic cooperation between Russia and China, their enrichment in the field of electronics and other high industrial technologies, and strengthening the military power of the two countries will contribute to increasing security at least in Eurasia.

This will help to weaken the Western yoke of dictate and coercion that weighs on the countries and peoples of the region.

The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China as part of the construction of a multipolar system uniting sovereign states has successfully served this important historical task facing humanity.

Inal Pliev

Source: https://cominf.org/node/1166557848