On November 3, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin began a two-day visit to China, described by Moscow as very important.
According to information from the Russian government and TASS news agency, Mr. Mishustin is expected to attend an annual government-level meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou city, before going to Beijing to hold talks with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the trip was of special importance and was associated with high expectations of promoting bilateral economic cooperation. He did not disclose whether President Vladimir Putin would send any message through Mishustin to the Chinese leader.
Since Mr. Putin and President Xi Jinping signed an unlimited partnership agreement in February 2022, Russia and China have increased cooperation to deal with the pressure of Western sanctions. The bilateral relationship recorded record trade, accelerated yuan payments and expanded cooperation in the energy sector.
In the context of trade and technological tensions between the US and China under President Donald Trump still leaving many consequences, Moscow and Beijing have more motivation to strengthen cross-border economic and trade linkages, considering this a way to counter pressure from the West.
According to TASS, the discussions between the two Prime Ministers will focus on trade, industrial cooperation, energy, transportation, agriculture and high technology. Previously, in the city of Ninh Ba, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Lap Phong co-chaired an intergovernmental committee meeting, which noted the growth in copper and Niken exports and expanding the agricultural product market.
Mr. Mishustin's trip is seen as a step to strengthen strategic relations between Russia and China, in the context that the two sides are seeking long-term solutions to adapt to the changing global economic order.
