Amid the prolonged conflict in Ukraine and mounting Western sanctions, Russia’s Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, embarked on a visit to Beijing where he signed a series of agreements, further solidifying the bilateral ties between Russia and China. Mishustin’s visit holds significant importance, being the highest-ranking Russian official to travel to Beijing since the deployment of Russian troops to Ukraine in February 2022. During his stay, he engaged in talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and had a scheduled meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Russia, grappling with the protracted war in Ukraine and increasing Western sanctions, is turning to China for support, leveraging the robust Chinese demand for oil and gas. The pressure from the West remains unrelenting, as highlighted by the recent declarations of the Group of Seven nations that singled out both Russia and China on various issues, including Ukraine.
Mishustin expressed the unprecedented high level of relations between Russia and China, emphasizing mutual respect for each other’s interests and the joint response to challenges arising from turbulence in the international arena and illegitimate sanctions from the collective West. These sentiments reflect the unity that both countries believe is instrumental in overcoming obstacles, as encapsulated by the Chinese saying, “unity makes it possible to move mountains.”
