China brings Russia supported with the presence of its president in Moscow to celebrate an anti -fascist victory, but also with a number of new cooperation agreements. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Chinese President Xi Jing on Thursday, who will be his most “famous” guest at the parade in Moscow to be celebrated in Moscow. The Chinese leader’s choice is also a message to the West and Donald Trump in particular, at a time when the US-China trade war is raging.

Si was not sparingly at the compliments to Putin, whom he described as a “beloved friend”, while calling him a “sacred war” against Nazi Germany. Putin described Si as a “central guest” and argued that China and Russia are fighting together against neo -Nazism.

Among the other visitors are Brazilian President Inasio Lula da Silva, Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitso. Other European leaders are not expected to be present at the parade. Venezuelan president Nikolaas Maduro has also been in Moscow since the beginning of the week.

Important agreements

During his visit to Russia, Si is expected to sign various agreements. “Governments and ministers are expected to sign a number of bilateral documents,” the Kremlin said. Si and Putin will also discuss the “development of partnerships and strategic relationships”. The agenda also includes “international and regional issues”, always based on the announcement from the Kremlin. China is Russia’s most important commercial partner.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has been presented as a “neutral part” and has stated that it has not supported neither Kiev nor Moscow with weapons. However, Beijing has significantly increased its political, military and economic cooperation with Moscow and is accused of helping Russia to bypass western sanctions. Ukrainian President Zelenski had accused Beijing, among other things, of supplying weapons to Russia and sending Chinese soldiers to fight against Ukraine. China rejected these allegations as “unsupported”.

Si’s choice leaves no doubt about Beijing’s intention not to leave Moscow. Si characteristically stated that Beijing would stand on the side of Moscow “against the international tendency to unilateral approach and hegemonic intimidation” in an indirect reference to the US and “will take on the specific responsibilities of large world forces”.

Who needs who

Bilateral trade reached the historic high of $ 245 billion last year. The two countries are increasingly conducting common military exercises and voting jointly in the United Nations against Western initiatives. Although it cites neutrality, China indirectly extends Russia’s war in Ukraine – mainly by supplying dual -use goods and helping to bypass technological sanctions.

However, Putin and Si know that “cooperation without borders”, announced three years ago, reaches its climax – and gradually confronts the barrier of the stunning national interests.

As many analysts point out, unlike Putin and Si’s assurances, Moscow and Beijing are not partners on equal terms. Due to its ongoing isolation from the West, Russia needs China much more than the other way around. In the last two years, 30% of Russian exports have been heading to China, while 40% of Russian imports came from China – this testifies to an ongoing, increasing dependence that is not mutual.

Russia, however, remains an important economic partner for China, but in no way necessary – unlike Europe and the US. Only in the field of military technology can China learn something from Russia. The boom in bilateral trade has reached its limits. Compared to 2023, the volume of mutual imports and exports increased by only 1.9%. In previous years, Putin and Si enjoyed an annual growth of more than 20%.

Source: Tagesschau, Der Spiegel, Die Welt