Russia-China relations at “best in history”
(Baonghean.vn) - China and Russia are publicly announcing a new era in bilateral diplomacy, as both sides are being targeted by the US with sanctions.
 |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 5. Photo: AFP |
During his visit to Moscow on April 5, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that relations between the two countries are at "the best level in history".
This information was released in the context of the US announcing additional trade actions against China, revealing an additional $100 billion in tariffs that could be imposed on the night of April 5.
Meanwhile, Russia is facing an international diplomatic row over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in the UK, which London has blamed on the Kremlin.
Richard McGregor, a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, told CNN: “China wants to assert the existence of a new world order, independent and anti-American… They all have reasons to push back against the US.”
Mr. Wang Yi is completing a visit to Moscow, where the senior Chinese diplomat met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is planning a state visit to Beijing in June.
Accompanying Mr. Wang on his visit, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said Beijing was willing to join Moscow in expressing “common concerns and common positions on important international issues.”
“The Chinese side came to Moscow to show the Americans the close relationship between the armed forces of China and Russia… we came to support our Russian friends,” he said.
McGregor said the two countries have grown closer over the past decade, although it is difficult to say exactly how deep the relationship is.
China supports Russia in the poisoning case in the UK
Amid the ongoing international diplomatic crisis over British allegations that Russia was behind the attempted poisoning of a former double agent residing in the city of Salisbury in March, Beijing has remained largely silent.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang dodged questions about the attack at a daily press briefing on April 3. “We know that relevant parties have not yet reached a conclusion on the Skripal case that satisfies all parties,” he said. “China maintains that relevant parties should promptly review the facts behind the Skripal case and properly resolve disputes based on mutual respect and equal consultation.”
Beijing has also not joined other major countries in the world such as the US, Canada, Australia, etc. in expelling Russian diplomats in recent weeks.
McGregor said this was the latest in a series of close foreign policy coordination between Moscow and Beijing. The two countries have long supported each other at the United Nations.
“China has never said much about Russia's annexation of Crimea, they cooperate closely on the North Korean crisis and China has not criticized Russia's role in Syria,” he said.
