In just five days, the world situation seems to have been stretched to the extreme by tight strings, and the United States, Japan, and Britain have successively issued severe policy challenges to China, and in this series of diplomatic games, Russian President Putin's statement seems to have relieved a worry for China and further solidified the relationship between China and Russia.
When U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo stood on the podium of the annual Defense Forum, her words were like sharp arrows, pointing directly at the heart of the Sino-US technology war. She urged blocking China's access to critical technologies, especially semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies, saying it was a "priority" for U.S. national security. Raimondo's voice is firm and clear, and she believes that the future and security of the United States hang by a thread, and that stricter controls on Chinese technology exports must be implemented.
Like a stone thrown onto the surface of a calm lake, Raimondo's speech stirred up waves. Immediately afterwards, Japan and the United Kingdom also spoke out. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has revised its "end-user list" for export controls to include a number of new Chinese entities, a move that has been widely interpreted as a sign of Japan's concerns about China's technological rise and coordination with the United States in its China strategy. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, took advantage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to announce sanctions against multinational entities and individuals, including several Chinese companies. In response, the Chinese Embassy in the UK issued a resolute opposition, accusing the UK of violating international law, abusing unilateral sanctions, and harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
In this series of diplomatic storms, Putin's voice is particularly important. At the "Russia is Calling" forum, Putin broke the silence by not only expressing his willingness to cooperate with China in a number of areas, including in the field of military technology, but also recalled an earlier meeting with Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, and emphasized the determination of the two sides to strengthen strategic communication and raise the level of practical cooperation. Putin's series of actions have undoubtedly given China a solid back-to-back partner and added bargaining chips to it in the international diplomatic arena.
Putin's statement is not only a support for China, but also an interpretation of current international relations. Against the backdrop of pressure from the United States and its allies on China, close cooperation between China and Russia is particularly important. It not only represents the determination of the two countries to resist the Cold War mentality and geopolitical competition between the United States and Western countries, but also an important step for the two major powers to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world at large. In this multi-party game involving technology, economics and geopolitics, the close relationship between China and Russia has undoubtedly given the world more balance and thinking.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the heads of major world news agencies via video link at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on the 4th to discuss international hot issues. Putin highly praised Russian-Chinese relations, and he believes that the two sides are expected to achieve the goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to $200 billion by 2024. Putin does not expect any breakthrough for the upcoming meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, but Russia does not intend to completely abandon the dollar as a reserve currency and a currency for international payments.
China and Russia are closely cooperating in the fields of aircraft manufacturing and lunar scientific research
Putin spoke highly of Russian-Chinese relations, pointing out that Russia and China share extensive common interests, which are an important foundation for deepening cooperation between the two sides. Russia is willing to work with China to strengthen the alignment between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative. The two countries will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the international arena to safeguard common interests. Putin made the above remarks in response to a question raised by Xinhua News Agency President and Editor-in-Chief He Ping in Beijing on Sino-Russian relations.
Putin said: Not long ago, the Russian-Chinese nuclear energy cooperation project successfully started construction of four nuclear power units, which is a very important cooperation between the two sides in the field of high technology. Putin said that Russia and China share extensive common interests, which are an important foundation for deepening cooperation between the two sides. Economic cooperation is one of the key areas of cooperation between the two sides. The bilateral trade volume between Russia and China has exceeded $100 billion year after year, and in 2020, despite the impact of the global pandemic, it still maintained this level. It is believed that by 2024, the two sides are expected to achieve the goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to 200 billion US dollars.
Putin said that the development of Russian-Chinese relations is advancing with the times, and close cooperation is carried out in a wide range of fields, such as aircraft manufacturing, lunar scientific research, energy, environmental protection, and people-to-people exchanges. Russia is willing to work with China to further strengthen the synergy between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative.
On cooperation in international affairs, Putin said that he has no doubt that Russia and China will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the international arena and safeguard common interests. This kind of strategic cooperation between Russia and China is undoubtedly conducive to maintaining international strategic stability.
We will discuss disarmament and other issues with Biden, but we do not expect any breakthroughs
Speaking about the upcoming meeting with Biden on the same day, Putin said that relations between Russia and the United States are currently at a low level, and he does not expect any breakthrough in the meeting with the US president to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 16th.
Putin said that the United States has publicly stated that it wants to contain Russia's development, and the two sides will discuss bilateral relations, disarmament, counterterrorism, the fight against the new crown epidemic, and the environment. He does not expect any breakthrough in Russian-American relations from the meeting with Biden, but hopes that the meeting will be conducted in a positive manner.
Regarding the previous hacking of the Colonial Pipeline Transportation Company in the United States, Putin said that some people tried to provoke a conflict before the meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, and it is absurd to accuse Russia of doing it.
Answering the question of whether it will attract investment from "unfriendly countries" to Russia, Putin said that Russia will cooperate with companies that are not hostile to "unfriendly countries." He said that the participation of about 200 US representatives at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum shows that the United States is working to ensure that the Russian market is not lost.
Relations between the United States and Russia have been tense in recent years. Since the Biden administration took office, Russia and the United States have achieved limited cooperation in the field of arms control, but there are obvious differences on issues such as Ukraine, cybersecurity, human rights, and election interference, and the confrontation has intensified. On April 15, the U.S. government announced large-scale sanctions against Russia and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats for its "malicious activities" such as cyber attacks and interference in U.S. elections. On May 14, the Russian government announced that it would add the United States to the list of "unfriendly countries" to Russia.