Russia, China move closer as Trump tariffs start to bite
President Xi Jinping meets Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok this week.
Relations between China and Russia are set to become closer as President Xi Jinping meets Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok this week.
The meeting between the two leaders — the third time they have met this year — comes as China faces the prospect of another round of new tariff increases from US President Trump on a potential $US200 billion ($281bn) worth of its exports to America.
Mr Xi’s visit to the Russian port city is the first time a Chinese leader has attended the forum.
China’s assistant foreign minister Zhang Hanhui said the visit was “an embodiment of the good working relationship and profound friendship” between Mr Xi and Mr Putin. “The two countries have demonstrated mutual and resolute support for each other on issues concerning their core interests,” he said.
He said the two leaders would be strengthening their “strategic co-operation” on regional and international issues including the North Korean nuclear issue.
Negotiations between North Korea and the US, following the meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Mr Trump in Singapore in June appear to have stalled.
The meeting between the two leaders comes as Beijing has been keen to boost its ties with other countries, including Japan, South East Asia and Africa, as it comes under increasing pressure from Mr Trump, who is threatening to step up his trade war against China.
A key issue for China has been the importing of soybeans. Imports from the US now face tariffs of 25 per cent as a result of Mr Trump’s trade war. As a result, China, the world’s largest importer of soybeans, is now looking to take more from Russia.
Mr Xi’s arrival in Russia will coincide with war games between China and Russia to take place in the Trans-Baikal region in Russia’s far east. The five-day exercise will involve 300,000 troops, including 3000 from China.
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