Charm offensive: Russia talk up relationship with China
After the Trump era, China has been looking for a reset in relations with the US, although they have stopped short of offering an olive branch and have repeatedly claimed that the US is meddling in Beijing’s affairs. The Russia-China relationship has taken a different course.
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russian and Chinese leaders Putin and Xi Jinping will issue a joint statement on the 20th anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation. The Treaty, signed in 2001, is expected to be automatically extended, according to Lavrov, who called for closer relations between the two states.
The Russian Foreign Minister argued that it is necessary to move away from Western-run payment systems, stressing that Russia and China can reduce sanctions risks “by strengthening our technological independence.” He added that attempting to use sanctions to punish Russia and China “is simply unwise.” The Russian Foreign Minister was also keen to label Russia and China as model international actors.
According to Lavrov, the West has forgotten how to use classic diplomacy, unlike Russia and China, who have been actively promoting these values. The highlighting of interactions between Russia and China continued, with Lavrov praising work between the two states as an example to be followed, while outlining mutual interests in a number of areas. Meanwhile, the Russian state-backed press provided a great deal of commentary on China.
RT has focused on the narrative of the US interfering with the sovereignty of China, while also providing commentary on US-China talks, with headlines such as, “Team Biden slapped around by China.” Elsewhere, Sputnik has done much to highlight Lavrov’s press conference, providing quotes that present the Russia-China relationship as a unique diplomatic partnership.
While the Russia-China relationship has not always run smoothly, there has been a clear effort on the part of the two states to strengthen ties, as the balance of power on the international stage remains at risk of changing.
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