Xi Jinping's visit to Vladimir Putin in Moscow, boost and mediation

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at Moscow airport, March 20, 2023. AFP - ANATOLIY ZHDANOV

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3 min

The Chinese president arrived in Moscow on Monday, March 20. The three-day state visit to Russia, the first in four years, is his first trip since his reappointment as head of the Chinese state. A gesture that marks the importance of the Beijing-Moscow relationship and a breath of fresh air also for a Russian president who, 48 hours ago, was the first head of state of a member country of the UN Security Council to be targeted by an arrest warrant from the ICC.

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From our correspondent in Moscow, Anissa El Jabri

The Chinese president arrives in a Russian capital where little by little the symbols of the conflict are beginning to settle. They were very rare until now. But we are beginning to see, in addition to portraits of soldiers described as heroes of Russia, posters like the recent one for the celebration of spring, which depicts a bouquet of peonies just above an artillery cannon.

► Read also: Russia: Xi Jinping's state visit to Moscow, a "trip of friendship, cooperation and peace"

The two heads of state each published an article. "A journey of friendship, cooperation and peace," Xi Jinping wrote in Rossiskaya Gazeta. China wants to present itself as a neutral mediator in the conflict in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's text, published yesterday evening on the Kremlin's website, welcomes "China's willingness to play a constructive role in the settlement of the conflict" and at the same time the Russian president praises the quality of ties between Moscow and Beijing, "superior to that of political and military unions during the Cold War".

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For me, it is also a great opportunity to see a good old friend with whom we have the warmest relations," the Russian president also wrote. Just before the arrival of its Chinese counterpart in Moscow, China, through one of the spokesmen of its diplomacy, called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to avoid "double standards", after the issuance by this court of an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders will "talk about the Chinese plan to settle the conflict in Ukraine," the Kremlin confirmed this morning. Plan received in a mixed way in Russia. But the daily Izviestia stressed on Monday, March 20: "A little more than a week before the visit negotiated by China, Saudi Arabia, a close partner of the United States, and Iran, its long-time enemy, announced the restoration of diplomatic relations. This highlighted China's growing political and economic influence in a region long shaped by US influence. In this context, this image of a mediator in the Ukrainian conflict (although China does not particularly claim to be one) has probably become even more annoying to the United States."

Xi Jinping has always criticized what he calls "unilateral sanctions against Russia." In any case, they have resulted in the explosion of Russian-Chinese trade.

Bilateral trade doubled in 2022 to almost $190 billion, according to China Customs. The yuan's share of foreign currencies for Russian trade, which was insignificant a year ago (-0.5%) has soared to 16%. Some analysts here dare to speak of "vassalization". The Kremlin, as early as Friday, insisted on a relationship of equals.

► Read also: Chinese President Xi Jinping on a three-day state visit to Russia from March 21

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Russia
  • China
  • Diplomacy
  • Trade and Commerce
  • Xi Jinping
  • Vladimir Poutine
  • Ukraine