Beijing is sending one of its top ranking diplomats to Moscow. The four-day summit will tackle strategic security talks between the two superpowers amidst the growing threat from the United States.
Beijing is enhancing its security cooperation with Russia after the United States announced new sanctions against the latter. Additionally, Washington is also tied into a bitter trade war with China.
Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communists Party Politburo, is expected to land in Russia on Tuesday. The high-ranking diplomat is expected to take part in several important talks regarding China-Russia security strategy.
Yang, who is a former state councilor tasked with China's foreign policies, will meet with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council. In a report from Russian news agency TASS, Patrushev said that Yang is also scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Chinese diplomat's four-day visit.
The enhanced cooperation between China and Russia comes at a time when the two countries are facing harsh sanctions and trade disputes from the United States. US President Donald Trump, who is known for his unconventional and hostile view regarding global trade and international affairs, has been particularly critical about the growing influence of China and Russia on the global stage.
Yang's four-day trip was announced hours after the United States publicized its plan to levy new and more extensive sanctions against Russia. Washington said it will impose new bans on a wide range of exports. It added that the new sanctions are in response to the supposed nerve attack against Sergei Skripa, a former Russian agent, and his daughter Yulia. Moscow has since denied the allegation.
The upcoming trip also comes at a time when China and the United States are embroiled in a high-tension trade war. As a response to Washington's latest barrage of trade bouts, Beijing released a new list of American goods about to be slapped with trade tariffs amounting to US$16 billion.
Many observers have noted that Beijing and Moscow have been enhancing strategic cooperation in recent years. Some experts suggested that the two countries are forming an alliance as part of an ongoing effort to subdue the current political climate dominated by the West and the United States in particular.
Finnish Institute of International Affairs senior research fellow Elina Sinkkonen said, "The basic building blocks for future cooperation on security issues are somewhat more solid."
