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What to Know About the Summit Between Putin and Xi in China
China’s backing will be crucial to President Vladimir V. Putin as he intensifies his offensive in Ukraine. But his host, Xi Jinping, has other competing priorities.
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Xi Welcomes Putin to China 0:26 Xi Jinping greeted President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in a show of solidarity at the start of a two-day state visit.CreditCredit...Sergei Guneyev/Sputnik By David Pierson Published May 15, 2024Updated May 16, 2024, 12:51 a.m. ET 阅读简体中文版阅读繁体中文版 Get it sent to your inbox. When China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, hosts President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia this week, the two leaders are expected to present a united front. But they have different agendas. Mr. Putin is trying to escalate his war in Ukraine before Ukrainian forces can receive a replenishment of arms from the United States, and probably wants to know he can rely on China. Mr. Xi will seek to bolster his strategic partner and “old friend,” but he is also under pressure to avoid further alienating the West over his support for Russia. Those priorities are the backdrop of Mr. Putin’s two-day state visit, which began in Beijing on Thursday and will include a trip to the northeastern city of Harbin, where a China-Russia trade fair is being held. Mr. Putin will most likely seek more help from Beijing, which has provided a lifeline to the Kremlin ever since Western sanctions were imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. China purchases huge quantities of Russian oil and provides technologies that help Moscow withstand its economic isolation and sustain its war machine. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Mr. Xi considers Russia an important counterweight in China’s rivalry with the United States, but he risks alienating Europe, a key trading partner, at a time when China is relying on exports to revive its sluggish economy. Here is what to know about the summit. A Personal Relationship and a Shared Vision The visit is Mr. Putin’s first foreign trip since winning his fifth presidential election in March. Mr. Xi showed the same respect to Mr. Putin when he made Russia his first foreign trip after securing his norm-shattering third term as China’s president in March 2023. Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like. David Pierson covers Chinese foreign policy and China’s economic and cultural engagement with the world. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about David Pierson See more on: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Russia-Ukraine War, President Joe Biden Share full article Read in app Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Xi Welcomes Putin to China
Xi Jinping greeted President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in a show of solidarity at the start of a two-day state visit.CreditCredit...Sergei Guneyev/Sputnik
By David Pierson
Published May 15, 2024Updated May 16, 2024, 12:51 a.m. ET
阅读简体中文版阅读繁体中文版
Get it sent to your inbox.
When China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, hosts President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia this week, the two leaders are expected to present a united front. But they have different agendas.
Mr. Putin is trying to escalate his war in Ukraine before Ukrainian forces can receive a replenishment of arms from the United States, and probably wants to know he can rely on China. Mr. Xi will seek to bolster his strategic partner and “old friend,” but he is also under pressure to avoid further alienating the West over his support for Russia.
Those priorities are the backdrop of Mr. Putin’s two-day state visit, which began in Beijing on Thursday and will include a trip to the northeastern city of Harbin, where a China-Russia trade fair is being held.
Mr. Putin will most likely seek more help from Beijing, which has provided a lifeline to the Kremlin ever since Western sanctions were imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. China purchases huge quantities of Russian oil and provides technologies that help Moscow withstand its economic isolation and sustain its war machine.
Mr. Xi considers Russia an important counterweight in China’s rivalry with the United States, but he risks alienating Europe, a key trading partner, at a time when China is relying on exports to revive its sluggish economy.
Here is what to know about the summit.
A Personal Relationship and a Shared Vision The visit is Mr. Putin’s first foreign trip since winning his fifth presidential election in March. Mr. Xi showed the same respect to Mr. Putin when he made Russia his first foreign trip after securing his norm-shattering third term as China’s president in March 2023.
Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.
David Pierson covers Chinese foreign policy and China’s economic and cultural engagement with the world. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about David Pierson
See more on: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Russia-Ukraine War, President Joe Biden
