[ad_1]
The top Chinese diplomat will travel to Russia on Monday for security talks, the latest sign of deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow amid increased uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.
Yang Jiechi, who heads China’s central foreign affairs committee will be in Russia until Wednesday for a strategic and security consultation, the foreign ministry said on Sunday. Yang will also visit Croatia and Slovenia before returning to China.
The announcement came as both countries place more emphasis on bilateral relations at a time when U.S. geopolitical dominance has waned and the coronavirus has caused a global upheaval.
It was also a few days after Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, the presidents of China and Russia, attended the launch of a link video of a nuclear power project. The agreement, which was signed in 2018, means that Russia will help China build four nuclear reactors.
Putin said on Wednesday at the launch that ties between neighbors had reached “the best level in history,” reiterating comments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in March.
Xi and Russia have “strongly supported” the pandemic, Xi said, and spoke of a “comprehensive strategic coordination partnership for a new era.”
The comments add to the recent emphasis on closer ties in accelerating the twentieth anniversary of the signing of a treaty between the two countries to strengthen cooperation.
Last year, in a phone call with Putin, Xi stressed the need to establish relations with Russia given the “turbulence” caused by the coronavirus pandemic and said the 2001 treaty had established the concept of building a new one. types of international relations, depending on the state. media.
The coronavirus has created foreign policy opportunities in other countries for both countries offered vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. In China, new coronavirus cases have remained low since the middle of last year, while their the economy has recovered much faster than other large countries.
A closer relationship between China and Russia contrasts with its ties with the United States. President Joe Biden has vowed to confront China on human rights, intellectual property and economic policy and has described the country as the most serious American competitor. The U.S. president has also imposed heavy sanctions on Russia for “harmful foreign activities.”
The nuclear deal began when China aims to reduce its dependence on coal, of which it is by far the world’s largest consumer, to meet new energy targets that include reducing net carbon emissions to zero by 2060. .
[ad_2]
Source link
