Russian President Vladimir Putin is embarking on a two-day state visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC). On Thursday, May 16, he will be in Beijing, followed by a visit to the administrative center of Heilongjiang Province, the city of Harbin, on May 17.
High-Level Bilateral Relations
A state visit holds the highest diplomatic protocol. However, for Russia and China, such a visit by their respective leaders carries even deeper significance.
The relationship between Moscow and Beijing extends beyond a comprehensive partnership; it involves strategic interaction. The personal friendship between the leaders, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, significantly influences interstate interactions.
Putin's meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 16 marks their first face-to-face encounter this year, following a phone conversation on February 8. Symbolically, Putin's choice of China for his first foreign trip after reelection mirrors Xi Jinping's visit to Russia just 10 days after his own reelection. This reciprocal gesture underscores the strong personal chemistry between the two leaders.
Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the Russian leader, explained that this tradition of exchanging first visits underscores the high level of bilateral relations and the priority both sides give to the Russian-Chinese partnership. He emphasized, "This undoubtedly also reflects the personal chemistry that has developed between the two leaders of our states."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry highlighted the importance of Putin's visit, occurring on the 75th anniversary of Chinese-Russian relations. Wang Wenbin, an official representative, emphasized Beijing's commitment to the strategic leadership of Putin and Xi Jinping in shaping bilateral relations. "The heads of the two states have agreed to continue maintaining close contacts to ensure the successful and stable development of China-Russia relations," emphasized the official representative.
Representative Delegation
The composition of the delegation accompanying Putin on this trip underscores the special importance that the Kremlin attaches to the upcoming Russian-Chinese contacts. The delegation comprises almost the entire updated cabinet of ministers, nearly a quarter of the governor's corps, and top executives from major businesses.
Joining the President in China will be key figures from the profile intergovernmental commissions, including First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Ministers Dmitry Chernyshenko, Alexander Novak, Yuri Trutnev, Tatyana Golikova, and Vitaly Savelyev. The delegation also includes Elvira Nabiullina, head of the Central Bank, and heads of various ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, among others. Notable attendees will be Oleg Belozerov from Russian Railways, Alexei Likhachev from Rosatom, Dmitry Shugaev from FSVTS, and Yuri Borisov from Roscosmos.
Representatives from the presidential administration will also be present, including deputy heads Maxim Oreshkin and Dmitry Peskov, along with Yuri Ushakov, the assistant to the Russian leader. Participating in the negotiations will be key figures like Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu.
Russian business will be well-represented in the delegation, with notable figures such as Boris Titov, co-chairman of the Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace, and Development, and Gennady Timchenko, head of the Russian-Chinese Business Council and owner of Volga Group. Also in attendance will be Herman Gref, President and Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, Oleg Deripaska, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF, Andrei Kostin, President of VTB, and chairpersons of various major companies including Rusnano, Novatek, Rosneft, and others. Additionally, Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of VEB.RF, will be part of the delegation.
Beijing Tea Party
The meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping will undoubtedly attract global attention, focusing on discussions about the Ukrainian issue. However, this topic will be addressed after the Russian-Chinese negotiations, during an informal meeting organized by Xi Jinping on the evening of May 16 at the government residence "Zhongnanhai."
According to Ushakov, the most crucial part of the visit will be a one-on-one conversation between the leaders, followed by a walk in the park and a tea party. An informal dinner in a "1+4" format will follow, with the participation of Lavrov, Belousov, Shoigu, and Ushakov joining Putin.
The informal discussions are expected to center around the Ukrainian crisis. Moscow values Beijing's balanced stance on this issue, with China understanding the underlying reasons for its emergence. Xi Jinping has consistently emphasized the importance of involving Russia in any discussions related to Ukraine, stressing that excluding Russia would be counterproductive and meaningless.
All informal events will be conducted behind closed doors, with no set duration, allowing for open and candid dialogue between the leaders.
Partnership Resilient to Any Challenges
Putin's agenda for the Russian-Chinese partnership in Beijing promises a packed schedule. Following the official meeting ceremony and a photo session of the heads of Russia and China, they will engage in discussions initially in a narrow format, held in the Fujian Hall of the People's Assembly House. Subsequently, members of the delegations will convene in the Great Eastern Hall.
The primary focus of this meeting will be on trade and economic cooperation. The leaders will deliberate on the current state and future prospects of bilateral collaboration across various sectors, with particular attention to new initiatives in the energy sector.
Additionally, Putin and Xi Jinping will exchange perspectives on cooperation within various international organizations and structures, including the UN and the SCO. They will explore the convergence of integration processes within the EAEU and China's "Belt and Road" initiative, along with regional issues such as the situation surrounding Ukraine, as well as developments in the Middle East, Central and Northeast Asia, and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Putin will extend an invitation to Xi Jinping to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan.
Following the Russian-Chinese negotiations in an expanded format, a ceremony is slated for the signing of joint documents. Putin and Xi Jinping will sign a Joint Statement on Deepening Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Interaction, marking a new era in the context of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A total of 11 intergovernmental documents are expected to be signed in their presence. Additionally, a substantial package of other agreements and documents, including those of commercial significance, has been prepared for the visit, to be signed separately, albeit not in the presence of the heads of state.
During his time in Beijing, Putin will also meet with Li Keqiang, the Premier of the State Council of China. He will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square and, alongside Xi Jinping, attend a solemn concert commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the inauguration of the Year of Russian-Chinese Culture at the State Bolshoi Theatre.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS