Trip to boost to AI, stabilise world trade
-: R Muthu Kumar :-
Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to travel to China in May for talks with Xi Jinping, in what could be Kremlin chief’s first overseas trip in his new presidential term.
Putin’s trip to China would probably take place in the second half of May. According to sources, Putin ‘svisit would come before Xi’s planned trip to Europe. Kremlin, when asked about a news agency report, said information on Putin’s visits would be released closer to the date.
China has heralded historically strong relations with Russia as it called for the pair to coordinate on security, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region.
At this point of time it would be a big challenge for Putin’s team to take a decision on the proposed trip due to the Moscow terror attack at a popular concert venue outside Moscow.
In Moscow and Moscow Region, in all regions of the country, additional anti-terrorism and anti-saboteur measures have been introduced by Putin and his entire advisssory teams are closely watching the developments.
“Several presidential visits and several high-level contacts are being prepared at the moment. We will inform you as we get closer,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.
Putin and Xi share a broad world view, which sees the West as decadent and in decline just as China challenges US supremacy in everything from quantum computing and synthetic biology to espionage and hard military power.
China has strengthened its trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions against both countries, particularly Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.Foreign diplomats and observers said they expected Putin to make China his first stop after being re-elected. Putin’s formal presidential inauguration is due to take place around May 7.
Putin told reporters on Sunday that Russia and China shared a similar global outlook and enjoyed resilient relations in part due to his good personal relations with Xi, and that Moscow and Beijing would develop ties further in coming years.Xi visited Russia in his first post-pandemic overseas trip in March last year, shortly after commencing his precedent-breaking third term as Chinese President.
The two leaders have often touted their close personal friendship and have met over 40 times, most recently in October when Putin was the guest of honour at China’s Belt and Road summit in Beijing. China-Russia trade hit $ 218.2 billion during January-November, according to Chinese customs data, exceeding a goal to increase bilateral trade to over $ 200 billion by 2024 that was set by the two countries. Xi, in a call with Putin last month, said both sides should resolutely oppose interference in domestic affairs by external forces, indicating the US.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong said bilateral ties were “at their best in history” when meeting his Russian counterpart in Moscow last month, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry.
China is considering taking part in a peace conference aimed at ending the war in Ukraine to be hosted by neutral Switzerland in the coming months, its Ambassador to Bern in Switzerland said.
