Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Moscow in September 2015. Moscow/AFP Yonhap News
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Russia on the 20th and meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It has been six months since last September. It is noteworthy what kind of agreement the two will reach in relation to the war that Russia is invading Ukraine. President Xi wants to mediate the war in Ukraine, but President Putin wants China’s military and economic support, so a clear agreement between the two countries does not seem easy. President Xi will arrive in Moscow this afternoon and hold an informal one-on-one meeting and dinner with President Putin. A formal official meeting and state dinner are scheduled for the 21st. Earlier, on the 19th, the Russian Kremlin (President’s Office) announced that the two would sign two joint statements on the deepening of comprehensive partnership and economic cooperation plans by 2030 on the 21st. He said he would discuss. The biggest concern is whether President Xi will succeed in mediating the war in Ukraine. Prior to his visit to Moscow, President Xi predicted a peaceful move, saying in an article published in Russian media such as “This visit to Russia is a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace.” China’s foreign ministry made it even clearer on the 17th that President Xi’s visit to Russia was aimed at mediating between Russia and Ukraine. “We will maintain an objective and impartial stance on the Ukraine crisis, and play a constructive role in encouraging reconciliation and promoting dialogue,” said Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China, which has achieved the result of restoring diplomatic relations by mediating negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, longtime rivals in the Middle East, seems to be trying to raise its status as a “peace broker” by mediating the war in Ukraine. On the 24th of last month, on the first year of the war in Ukraine, China issued a document titled “China’s Position on the Political Resolution of the Ukraine Crisis,” and made 12 proposals, including respect for sovereignty, cessation of war, and initiation of peace negotiations. President Putin does not reject Xi’s attempts to mediate, but he does not actively accept them. “We welcome China’s willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the (Ukraine) crisis,” Putin said in an article published in the Journal of the Chinese Communist Party. However, President Putin continued, “It was not Russia that stopped the peace talks in April last year. The future of the peace process depends on a willingness to engage in meaningful discussions taking into account new geopolitical realities.” Russia’s best ally and largest economic exchange partner, China, is not ignoring the mediation move, but it is trying to blame Ukraine and the West for the suspension of the peace talks. In addition, he expressed his intention to hold peace talks in a situation where Russia occupied Ukraine was recognized. There are also observations that President Xi may provide arms support that President Putin wants, but the possibility does not seem high. President Putin is known to want to receive ammunition and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) from China, but China has yet to come forward with arms support to Russia. If arms are supplied to Russia that invaded Ukraine, international criticism may rise. In a situation where economic recovery in China is urgent, it is not necessary to provide arms support to the extent of enduring economic sanctions from the United States and Europe. However, China is expected to further strengthen its economic cooperation by importing energy such as oil and gas from Russia and exporting daily necessities. It doesn’t seem easy for the two countries to come to a meaningful agreement on the war in Ukraine, but a clearer agreement could come about breaking down the US-centered international order. In his contribution, Xi said, “There should not be a first-class country, a universal national model, or an international order determined by a specific country in the world.” . President Putin also argued for the establishment of a global order against the United States, saying, “Russia and China are always working to build an equal, open, and inclusive regional and global security system.” Beijing/Choi Hyun-joon Correspondent [email protected]