China's head of state Xi calls relations with Russia a "strategic decision"
The close ties between the two countries have endured even after the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. Mishustin's two-day visit to China comes two months after one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rare trips abroad, during which he met his Chinese counterpart Xi in Beijing. Mishustin is reported to have said at a meeting with China's Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday that relations between Moscow and Beijing had now reached an "all-time high".
China is Russia's largest trading partner. Chinese customs data show that trade between the two countries reached a record volume of 190 billion dollars last year. Western countries have criticized China for what they say is its neutral stance on the Ukraine war. Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
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- Despite the criticisms from Western countries regarding China's neutral stance on Ukraine's conflict, its trade relations with Russia, being its largest trading partner, hit a record high of 190 billion dollars last year.
- Xi Jinping, the head of state in China, views the relationships with Russia as a "strategic decision".
- Mishustin, Russia's head of state, visited China and reportedly stated that relationships between Moscow and Beijing are currently at an "all-time high."
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met Xi in Beijing during one of his rare trips abroad, which took place just two months prior to Mishustin's visit to China.
- Despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, China's close ties with Ukraine have remained unbroken since the conflict started in February 2022.
- Western countries accuse China of adopting a neutral position when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war, but China has refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
- The two-day visit by Russian Prime Minister Mishustin to China was marked by a meeting with China's Premier Li Qiang, where Mishustin emphasized the strength of the bond between the two countries.
- Amid the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Chinese customs data show that the volume of trade between China and Russia is on the rise, cementing the "strategic decision" made by Xi Jinping's government.
Source: www.stern.de
