The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be making a two-day state visit to China this week, where he will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss various areas of cooperation and international issues of mutual concern. This visit is being seen as a display of unity between the two authoritarian countries against the Western liberal global order led by the United States. China has been a strong supporter of Russia politically, especially in the conflict in Ukraine, and has continued to provide economic support to Russia through exports despite opposition from the West.
China is a key market for energy supplies that help fund the Kremlin, and the two countries have engaged in joint military drills and have opposed economic sanctions against Russia. Both countries are seeking to expand their influence in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and South America, while challenging democracies and NATO. Putin’s visit to China is strategically timed, coming just days before the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, which is viewed as a move to reinforce their stance against Taiwan’s sovereignty and territorial claims by China.
Xi Jinping recently returned from a visit to Europe, where he visited countries seen as close to Russia, such as Hungary and Serbia. This trip was seen as an attempt by China to increase its influence in the region and potentially drive a wedge between the EU and NATO. China, along with Russia, is positioning itself as a leader of a bloc of authoritarian nations that stand in opposition to the Western liberal order. This alignment is driven by Chinese economic influence, which has been threatened by domestic economic challenges such as a housing crisis and slower growth.
The visit by President Putin to China marks his first foreign trip since being sworn in for his fifth term in office. The meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping is expected to strengthen their partnership and showcase their united front against the West. China’s support for Russia in various conflicts and its economic ties with the Kremlin have solidified their alliance, presenting a challenge to the dominance of Western powers in the global arena. The two countries are working together to expand their influence and counter the influence of Western democracies.
Overall, the visit by Putin to China highlights the close relationship between the two authoritarian countries and their shared opposition to the Western liberal global order. China’s support for Russia in conflicts and economic cooperation has strengthened their alliance and challenged the dominance of Western powers. This visit is strategically timed and comes amidst growing tensions between authoritarian states and democracies, as well as increasing efforts by China and Russia to expand their influence in key regions around the world. Putin’s visit to China is expected to further solidify their partnership and showcase their united front against the West.
