Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Michoustin hailed Wednesday in Beijing during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart bilateral relations “of an unprecedented level” in the face of “pressure” from Western sanctions.
Former rivals during the Cold War, China and Russia have been strengthening their diplomatic and commercial relations for a decade, a trend that has accelerated since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Claiming to be a neutral party in the conflict, Beijing calls for respect for the sovereignty of states, but has never publicly condemned the military operation carried out by Russian President Vladimir Putin since February 2022.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Michoustin arrived in China on Monday. He took part in an economic forum in Shanghai on Tuesday and then traveled to the Chinese capital for talks with his counterpart Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping.
He is the highest Russian official to visit China since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
"Today, relations between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented level," Michoustine told his counterpart after a welcoming ceremony held in front of the monumental People's Palace in Beijing.
"They are characterized by mutual respect for each other's interests, the desire to respond together to the challenges, which are linked to increased turbulence on the international scene and the pressure of illegitimate sanctions from the collective West," he said. he added.
Facing him, Li Qiang praised the "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era" between his country and Russia - a particularly high diplomatic level.
"I'm sure this trip to China will leave a deep impression on you," he said.
China is Russia's largest trading partner, with trade reaching 190 billion dollars (176 billion euros) in 2022, according to Chinese Customs.
Li Qiang pointed out on Tuesday that the amount of trade had already reached 70 billion dollars (64 billion euros) in the first four months of the year - an annual increase of more than 40%.
"The scale of investment between the two countries continues to increase. Major strategic projects are also progressing steadily," said the Chinese premier.
Mikhaïl Michoustine is accompanied by several senior Russian officials, in particular the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Energy, Alexandre Novak.
China last year became Russia's largest customer in the energy sector, allowing Moscow, under Western sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine, not to see its gas exports collapse.
Alexander Novak told Tuesday's forum in Shanghai that Russian energy supplies to China will increase by 40% in 2023, according to Russian news agencies.
According to analysts, China, given its economic and diplomatic weight, now has the upper hand in its bilateral relationship with Russia, a growing imbalance as Moscow's international isolation grows.
The leaders of the two countries have "grown closer because of common grievances and concerns than because of common goals," Ryan Hass, a member of the American think tank Brookings Institution, told AFP.
"They resent and feel threatened by Western leadership in the current international system and believe their countries should be given more respect on issues where their interests are at stake."
In February, the Chinese government issued a document that called for a "political settlement" of the conflict and to respect the territorial integrity of all countries - implying Ukraine included.
At a summit in March in Moscow, President Xi Jinping invited his counterpart Vladimir Putin to come to Beijing.
05/24/2023 11:42:54 - Beijing (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
