Vladimir Putin does not do four-day getaways to a single nation fairly often.
His final was 20 years in the past, to attend the sixtieth anniversary session of the UN Common Meeting in New York in 2005.
The truth that his present go to to China is that lengthy says quite a bit. So does the timing – barely two weeks after the Russian president met Donald Trump in Alaska.
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Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Pic: Sputnik, Kremlin pool photograph by way of AP
It appears like a really deliberate illustration of how shut Moscow is to Beijing within the face of US makes an attempt to weaken the connection and its drive to finish the warfare in Ukraine.
With China, the American president has tried the stick. Threats of tariffs and secondary sanctions over its continued buying of Russian oil.
And with Russia, apparently, the carrot too.
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Putin arrives at a welcome ceremony for the summit. Pic: Sputnik, Kremlin pool photograph by way of AP
However Putin’s programme in China seems designed to emphasize that his relationship with Xi Jinping is stronger than ever.
After the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation safety summit, the pair will maintain face-to-face talks on Tuesday, earlier than Putin takes his place as visitor of honour at a navy parade on Wednesday that marks the eightieth anniversary of Japan’s formal give up within the Second World Battle.
The symbolism is obvious – Russia and China fought shoulder-to-shoulder towards the enemies of the previous, and so they’ll stay united towards the threats of the longer term.
There will be different highly effective photo-ops too, particularly with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who’s amongst a string of leaders Vladimir Putin will maintain bilateral talks with.
A handshake and a smile on the summit sidelines simply days after Trump hit India with 50% tariffs for getting Russian oil would be the diplomatic equal of blowing a raspberry in Washington’s course.
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Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping (centre) pose for a photograph with different leaders. Pic: Sputnik, Kremlin pool photograph by way of AP
For Russia, the entire go to appears like a pointed present of solidarity amid sanctions – that Moscow and its allies are proof against Western stress.
However amid the symbolism, the Kremlin can be on the lookout for substance right here too.
Bilateral commerce with China, which has helped preserve the Russian financial system afloat for the reason that invasion of Ukraine, has began to fall in latest months.
After hitting a report excessive of $245bn in 2024, commerce volumes have dipped by 8% since January. And that is significantly worrying for Moscow, with indicators the financial system may very well be getting ready to recession.
Putin can be hoping to arrest that hunch and broaden commerce into new areas.
Most of all, although, I feel he’ll be looking for a dedication from Russia’s financial companions that they will not be going wherever ought to the stress improve.
