China-Russia relations

Putin has landed in China – days after Trump

Vladimir Putin landed in China on Tuesday afternoon, Swedish time, several media outlets report.

The Russian president was received by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Like Trump, he was also welcomed by jumping, singing and flag-waving Chinese youth.

The two-day visit takes place just four days after Donald Trump left China, but according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, this has nothing to do with the matter – the visit was planned long ago.

During the visit, Putin and Xi Jinping are expected to discuss, among other things, the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline, writes AFP.

Expert: “A couple in the same bed with different dreams”

The new geopolitical landscape has put China in a favorable international position. This is what Claus Soong, a China expert at the Mercator Institute, tells Deutsche Welle ahead of Russia's Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing today, just days after Donald Trump did so.

He believes that Moscow wants to make sure during the meeting that any progress in the US-China relationship after Trump's visit does not come at Russia's expense. At the same time, Putin may be looking to try to find a credible mediator for future peace talks with Ukraine.

According to Soong, it is not in China's interest for the war to become more protracted than it already is. At the same time, Beijing absolutely does not want to see a Russian regime collapse, he says. That could pose a major strategic risk for China, which has a long border with Russia. The countries are also important trading partners.

One goal of the meeting for China could be to secure stable access to Russian energy, without becoming too dependent, which could give Russia a strategic advantage.

- China and Russia are like a couple in the same bed, but with different dreams, he sums up the relationship. 

Putin: Russia and China Ready to Support Each Other

Issues of economic cooperation and “important international and regional issues” are expected to be in focus when Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping meet in Beijing today, the Kremlin announced, according to the AP.

In a pre-recorded video statement ahead of the meeting, Putin claims that ties between the countries are at a “truly unprecedented level” and that the relationship plays an important global role.

“We are ready to support each other on issues that concern the most important interests of both countries, such as protecting sovereignty and national unity,” Putin said.

The visit comes just days after US President Donald Trump left Beijing. However, Russia says there is no connection between the visits.