“It’s a desire to challenge the US-led global order”

The meeting between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow was covered in the front pages of many world publications. And although opinions differ on the possible outcome of the negotiations, it is noted that the visit will provide significant support to Russia against the backdrop of events in Ukraine.

The West tried to influence the course of negotiations in advance. Three days before the visit, the International Criminal Court (neither Russia nor China recognizes its jurisdiction) issued an arrest warrant for the president for “abducting Ukrainian children.” Two days before the meeting, Vladimir Putin visited Mariupol, in which the press saw disobedience to the court and the West in general, as well as a signal of unwillingness to back down.

The day before, the Chinese and Russian leaders exchanged welcome notes in major state publications. In an article in People’s Daily, Vladimir Putin speaks of “great expectations” for Xi Jinping’s visit and calls him a “good old friend,” noting China’s global security initiatives and the prospects for building a multipolar world.

The text of the Chinese leader in “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” seemed to the world media a little more restrained. In his article, Xi Jinping emphasized that his trips to Russia always yield great results and once again called for compliance by all parties with the UN Charter and “a rational way out of the Ukrainian crisis.”

However, Russia’s support is also important for China, including on the issue of Taiwan, which means that Moscow’s success in confrontation with the West is also noted by the media.

For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, his high-profile state visit to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin this week is a timely opportunity to showcase China’s growing diplomatic influence on the world stage and its desire to challenge the US-led global order.

Xi will walk the diplomatic tightrope in Moscow as he seeks to portray China as a neutral peacemaker while deepening ties with Russia without further pushing back against Europe, a key trading partner that Beijing has sought to lure away from the US.

“China is by far Russia’s most important ally. That Xi, the leader of the world’s second most powerful country, is willing to visit Moscow during the armed conflict in Ukraine is very symbolic.

China stepped in to supply Russia with large volumes of both civilian and military products, including raw materials and computer chips, vital resources for Moscow.

But Xi will also want to show the world that he can be a deterrent to Putin. [Лидер Китая] trying to play the role of a global statesman.”

Petr Sauer, Amy Hawkins, The Guardian

“For Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia, which begins on Monday, provides a giant morale boost and a chance to showcase the vaunted new world order that the Russian leader believes he is creating, in which the US and NATO can no longer do anything to anyone. dictate”.

Robin Dixon, The Washington Post

“The state visit of the Chinese president is a clear sign of support for Russia and its president at a time when the Kremlin is under intense international pressure.

In this “anti-Western world”, Moscow is heavily dependent on Beijing – now more than ever. But China can only have one ally: China itself. China can only have one set of interests: pro-Chinese. Chinese foreign policy is completely devoid of altruism.”

Steve Rosenberg, Stephen McDonell, BBC

“As economic relations deepen in Russia, long-standing fears remain that it could become a prisoner of China’s economic orbit. China’s much larger economy gives it more leverage in trade relations. Western sanctions have increased inequality. While trade with China has become crucial for Russia, it only accounts for a quarter of the value of imports and exports between China and the US.”

Georgy Kanchev, Evan Gershkovich, The Wall Street Journal

“China is playing for time and trying to find the best balance between two goals: achieving stability in relations with Europe and ensuring that Russia does not lose and stay on the side of China.”

Lingling Wei, The Wall Street Journal

“Chinese President Xi Jinping will express strong support for Vladimir Putin with his three-day visit to Moscow. Xi holds all cards and is the only global player who can force Putin to settle the issue with Ukraine. But Xi has no immediate incentive to end the conflict, which, among other benefits, reduces the resources the West could give Taiwan.”

“Putin and Xi are likely to agree to speed up work on another gas pipeline between their countries. Supplying Russia with goods it can no longer buy in the West, such as semiconductors, is also a beneficial move for Beijing, although some Chinese firms will be wary of Western sanctions. The leaders of Russia and China are also likely to continue their efforts to promote alternatives to the dollar as a world currency.”

Gideon Rahman, Financial Times

“Bilateral cooperation is expected to become closer once the Chinese government has streamlined its response to COVID-19 and lifted some restrictions on freight transportation.”

Ren Qi, Mo Jingxi, China Daily

“Putin’s portrayal of the armed conflict in Ukraine as part of a wider confrontation with the West has brought the two countries closer together. China will need Russia for the upcoming confrontation with the United States, which is becoming quite real.

Joe Leahy, Max Seddon, Financial Times

“Some U.S. officials and Western media have been denigrating China’s role as a possible peacemaker in the Ukraine crisis, continuing the hype over claims of Chinese arms sales to Russia and questioning Beijing’s actions and neutrality towards the crisis. The question is whether the US and the West want a mediator now or they just want the Ukraine crisis to drag on for as long as possible, using Ukraine as a pawn to weaken Russia and control Europe while maintaining their hegemony in the world.”

Bai Yunyi, Chen Qingqing, Global Times