A visit to Russia this week by Chinese President Xi Jinping would add “symbolic” weight to the camaraderie between the two neighbours, while subsequent developments could be more significant, according to European observers.
They also cautioned, however, that Beijing faced an unsustainable balancing act – strengthening ties with Moscow amid a prolonged war in Ukraine, while attempting to foster closer relations with Europe.
Xi was set to arrive in Russia on Wednesday for a four-day state visit and hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
As arguably the most prominent foreign leader to join Putin as the “main guest of honour”, Xi will also attend the May 9 military parade in Red Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
A profound friendship forged in blood and lives during the second world war had become an “eternal” source of the “everlasting” China-Russia friendship, the Chinese leader wrote in a signed article published on Wednesday ahead of his trip.
