The list of new cabinets for Putin's new term has been basically finalized, and Mishustin will continue to serve as Russian prime minister.
Recently, he received a congratulatory telegram from the leaders of the Chinese government, in which he not only expressed his blessings to Mishustin, but also reviewed the recent progress of Sino-Russian relations, and expressed his willingness to work together to further deepen bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in practical fields.
This news sets the tone for future high-level exchanges between China and Russia.
In addition, it is worth noting that Putin's upcoming state visit to China will provide an important opportunity for strategic communication between the two heads of state. In this context, Mishustin, as the head of the Russian government, is expected to have more exchanges with the Chinese side in the future.
It is worth mentioning that during Mishustin's previous term of office, Sino-Russian cooperation has developed rapidly, and he himself has played a key role in high-level exchanges between China and Russia on many occasions.
He has personally signed numerous strategic documents related to Russia's "Look East", demonstrating his centrality in promoting the strategy.
Therefore, his re-election will ensure the stability and continuity of Russia's China policy, help maintain the current positive development trend in Sino-Russian relations, and avoid a possible transition period and run-in period, which is a welcome outcome for both sides.
During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Mishustin's performance in power was highly praised. Since taking over as prime minister from Dmitry Medvedev in 2020, he has successfully navigated the challenges posed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, demonstrating excellent internal and external coordination.
Even in the face of war and international pressure, Russia's economic data has remained stable, and its political and economic relations with countries in the Global South have been steadily advancing. In the previous ranking of government trust, Mishustin ranked second, second only to Putin, which fully proves his ability and wide recognition from all walks of life.
With Mishustin's re-election, there has been a great deal of interest in the composition of the new cabinet.
It is reported that the heads of key departments such as the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be personally nominated by Putin, while the rest of the cabinet members will be recommended by Mishustin. Still, Mishustin's re-election itself has shown that Putin attaches great importance to policy continuity, so a major change in cabinet membership is unlikely, but some adjustments are inevitable.
Judging from the current situation, exchanges between China and Russia are expected to remain stable, and the main docking personnel will basically remain unchanged. Lavrov, a longtime foreign minister, will remain in office despite being 74 years old, reflecting the high level of dependence on Russian diplomacy for his work. Discussions are also underway about whether he will develop a successor in the future or remain in office until he turns 80.
In terms of the powerful sector, the Chief of the General Staff, Gerasimov, will remain in office, while the post of Minister of Defense has been unexpectedly selected - the economist-turned-civilian Belousov.
He previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the economy and has extensive experience in the economic sector. Therefore, his ascension to office was perceived as a kind of "airborne". The Kremlin explained that the Ministry of Defense needs to introduce new thinking and economic competitiveness to cope with the new situation.
It is widely believed that improving the economic situation of the Ministry of Defense will be one of the top priorities of the new defense secretary, including arms procurement and logistics capacity. In addition, he will be responsible for the necessary military-diplomatic work.
At the same time, Shoigu was appointed secretary of the Security Council, taking the place of Patrushev, who will have a new job arrangement. Despite the change in positions, Shoigu's field of work will maintain a certain continuity.
Russian analysts agree with Putin's arrangement, arguing that Shoigu's experience as defense minister, especially his performance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, will contribute to the efficient functioning of the security meeting.
In addition to these key positions, other ministerial positions have also been adjusted, but due to time constraints, they will not be repeated here.
On the whole, the changes and reservations in the new Russian cabinet profoundly reflect the strategic direction of Putin's domestic and foreign affairs in the new term.
From the point of view of Sino-Russian relations, Mishustin's re-election is undoubtedly the most important stability factor. The congratulatory message he received from the Chinese head of government not only reflects the friendly relations between the two countries, but also paves the way for the upcoming interaction at the highest level.
With the official list of the cabinet, Putin is about to embark on a state visit to China, which will also be his first foreign trip in the new term, and it is expected that many members of the new cabinet will participate in the trip.