It would also be Xi Jinping’s first overseas trip since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, coming just weeks before a major political conference in Beijing, breaking with tradition, assuming a third term in power and his role. is expected to be solidified. As China’s most powerful leader in decades.
Denisov said, “This summit will be interesting because it will be the first full-fledged summit since the pandemic,” Tas said.
“I don’t want to say that the online summit is not full-fledged, but still the quality of the discussion differs in direct communication between leaders.In fact, we are currently working with our partners in China,” said the diplomat. said.
On Wednesday, Li Zhanshu, China’s third-ranked leader and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, was the highest-ranking leader to leave China since 2020 when he arrived in Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum. became an official of According to Tas, Lee was scheduled to meet with Putin on Wednesday.
Xi Jinping’s scheduled meeting with Putin next week and Xi Jinping’s choice of destination for his first overseas trip allude to the importance of Russia relations to China.
Xi and Putin declared an “unrestricted” partnership between the two countries weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and in the face of tensions with the West, Moscow and Beijing have grown closer in recent years. emerged as a partner. Since then, Beijing has refused to condemn the aggression, instead repeatedly blaming NATO and the United States for the conflict.
When asked about Xi’s travel plans to Central Asia this month, China’s foreign ministry said Wednesday it could not provide any information.
The prospect of visiting Central Asia as Xi Jinping’s first official visit outside of China since early 2020 is a tribute to Xi Jinping’s own legacy of boosting China’s international prominence after a decade in power. There is also. Xi unveiled his flagship Belt and Road Initiative during a visit to Kazakhstan in 2013.
The SCO summit will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 15th. The organization has infected China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said President Xi Jinping’s decision to make an unusual trip abroad just weeks before China’s important 20th Party Congress was He said it could be interpreted as a sign of the leader’s confidence and strength. .
“This indicates that most of the staffing decisions for his third term have likely been made. I really don’t think he is being challenged domestically,” Wu said. Told.
Putin is one of the few world leaders that President Xi has met face-to-face since early 2020. Russian leaders traveled to Beijing for the Winter Olympics this February. Join us at this event that many Western countries have boycotted because of China’s human rights record.
It was the two releasing a 5,000-word document in which they forged an “unrestricted” partnership, expressed their common opposition to “further expansion of NATO,” and promised to “remain very vigilant against the adverse effects of the United States.” It was that meeting. Indo-Pacific strategy. ”
While Russia and China have grown closer due to their respective frictions with the West, the personal ties between the two leaders, whom Xi Jinping refers to as Putin as his “best friend,” are also at the national level.
China is willing to work with Russia to promote solidarity and cooperation among emerging market countries and push the development of the international order and global governance toward a fairer and more rational direction.
A business trip and bystander summit scheduled for this month will only serve to strengthen that relationship, which in itself matters as to where China’s current and future leaders see their country’s loyalties. make a statement.
Singapore’s Wu said he hoped the talks would further cement the friendship between Xi and Putin, as well as between China and Russia. He said it was not surprising that Xi would choose to meet Putin rather than US or European leaders on his first overseas trip since the pandemic.
“If he goes to America or Europe, he will face many challenges. If he goes to Putin, he will get all kinds of praise from his friends. I’m happy,” said Wu.
