Xi Jinping to visit Russia for BRICS summit in October
Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next month to participate in the BRICS summit scheduled to take place in Kazan, according to the Associated Press.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed the plans for Xi’s visit to Russia for the event next month.
On Thursday, Wang Yi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The Chinese official stated that Xi was pleased to accept the Kremlin leader’s invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan in October.
According to Putin, they will also hold a bilateral meeting in Kazan to discuss various aspects of the Russian-Chinese relationship, which he described as successfully developing in all directions.
Russian dependence on China is increasing
The Associated Press notes that following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country has become increasingly economically dependent on China, partly due to Western sanctions that have cut off Moscow from much of the international trading system.
The increase in trade between China and Russia, which reached $240 billion last year, has helped the aggressor nation mitigate some of the worst impacts of the sanctions imposed.
The AP report highlights that Moscow has redirected a significant portion of its energy exports to China and relied on Chinese companies for high-tech components needed for Russia's military industry, circumventing Western sanctions.
Moreover, China and Russia have also deepened their military ties over the past two years.
Mutual visits
Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Russia for the BRICS summit will be his second trip to the country since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Before this, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia in March 2023. Putin subsequently traveled to China in October of the same year.
Since then, the Chinese leader and the Russian leader have also met in Beijing in May and in Kazakhstan in July.
For reference: BRICS, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded to include South Africa in 2010. Recently, the bloc has further expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia has indicated interest in joining, while Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied.
Additionally, Türkiye has recently submitted an official application to join the BRICS group.
China's position on Russia's war against Ukraine
China has claimed neutrality in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine while deepening economic cooperation with Moscow. Although China officially does not supply weapons to Russia, its companies sell dual-use goods that could be utilized in the war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously urged China to cease supplying Russia with dual-use goods and hinted at the potential for increased sanctions.
Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the creation of conditions for a political settlement to the crisis in Ukraine, as Beijing refers to Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine.
