New alliance taking shape to compete with western countries, Russia wants to bring China closer

China on Tuesday urged Russia to enhance cross-border connectivity and deepen mutual trade and investment cooperation. The two allies vowed closer economic ties despite Western disapproval following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine last year. The Russian Economic Development Minister held in-depth discussions on economic cooperation with the Chinese Commerce Minister in Beijing on Tuesday. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said at the Beijing discussion that China-Russia economic and trade cooperation has deepened under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, according to a statement from his ministry.

Coming two years into the Ukraine war and with Russia under Western sanctions, Moscow has turned to its ally Beijing for economic aid, meeting Chinese demand for oil and gas as well as grain. The latest Chinese customs data showed Chinese imports of Russian goods rose 3% from a year earlier to $11.5 billion in August, contrasting with an 8% decline in July. Beijing has rejected Western criticism of its growing partnership with Moscow in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine. He emphasizes that these relations do not violate international norms and that China has the privilege to cooperate with any country it wants.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, chaired by President Vladimir Putin, told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Moscow “wants further progress and strengthening of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China.” Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev has reaffirmed Russia’s unconditional support for Beijing’s policy on issues related to Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong. Patrushev alleged that Western countries were using issues related to Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong to defame China.