The Prime Minister of Russia visits China. He will meet with Xi Jinping. “Very heavy weight”
The meeting with Li is to take place in Hangzhou, in eastern China, and the head of the Russian government is to talk to Xi in Beijing. According to the Russian TASS agency, quoted by Reuters, Mishustin's talks in China will focus on trade and economic relations, cooperation in transport and industry, strengthening the energy partnership and expanding cooperation in the field of advanced technologies and agriculture.
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When does the Russian Prime Minister start his visit to China?
Where will Mishustin's meeting with Li Qiang take place?
What topics will talks in China focus on?
What importance does Moscow attach to this visit?
Reuters also cited the comment of the Interfax agency, according to which Moscow attaches “very great” importance to this visit. Commenting on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, refused to answer the question whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin would convey any message to Xi through Mishustin.
Moscow and Beijing strengthened cooperation just before Russia attacked Ukraine
In February 2022, just before Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin and Xi signed an “unlimited” partnership agreement. Since then, the value of Moscow's trade with Beijing has increased significantly, among other things due to the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia. Reuters emphasized that tensions in China's relations with the US during Donald Trump's presidency also contributed to the strengthening of China-Russian ties.
On Sunday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Lifeng chaired a committee meeting in Ningbo, during which – according to a statement from the Russian side – talks included, among other things, tightening trade in the field of mineral resources and agricultural products.
