General international : International : News : The Hankyoreh

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Russia on the 20th and meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. It’s been six months since last September. It is noteworthy what kind of agreement the two will reach in relation to the war in which Russia invades the Ukraine. President Xi wants to mediate the war in Ukraine, but President Putin wants China’s military and economic support, so a clear agreement between the two countries does not seem easy. President Xi will arrive in Moscow this afternoon and hold an informal one-on-one meeting and lunch with President Putin. A formal official meeting and state dinner have been arranged for the 21st. Earlier, on the 19th, the Russian Kremlin (Office of the President) announced that the two would sign two joint statements on deepening partnership plans and comprehensive economic cooperation by 2030 on the 21st He said he would discuss. The biggest concern is whether President Xi will succeed in mediating the war in Ukraine. Before his visit to Moscow, President Xi predicted a peaceful move, saying in an article published in the Russian media that “This visit to Russia is a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace.” China’s foreign ministry made it even clearer on the 17th that President Xi’s visit to Russia was aimed at mediating between Russia and Ukraine. “We will maintain an objective and impartial stance on the Ukraine crisis, and play a constructive role in encouraging reconciliation and promoting dialogue,” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry. It seems that China, which has achieved the result of restoring diplomatic relations by mediating negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, longtime rivals in the Middle East, is trying to raise its status as a “peace broker” by mediating the war in Ukraine. On the 24th of last month, on the first year of the war in Ukraine, China published a document called “China’s Position on the Political Resolution of the Ukraine Crisis,” and made 12 proposals, including respect for sovereignty, cessation of war, and start peace talks. President Putin does not reject Xi’s attempts at mediation, but he does not actively accept them. “We welcome China’s willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the (Ukraine) crisis,” Putin said in an article published in the Journal of the Chinese Communist Party. However, President Putin continued, “It was not Russia that abandoned the peace talks in April last year. The future of the peace process depends on a willingness to participate in meaningful negotiations taking into account new geopolitical realities.” Russia’s best ally and largest economic exchange partner, China, does not ignore the mediation move, but tries to blame Ukraine and the West for stalling the peace talks. In addition, he expressed his intention to hold peace talks in a situation where Russia was recognized as occupying Ukraine. There are also comments that President Xi could provide the arms support that President Putin wants, but the possibility does not seem high. It is known that President Putin wants to receive ammunition and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) from China, but China has not yet delivered arms support to Russia. If arms are supplied to Russia which invaded Ukraine, international criticism may arise. In a situation where economic recovery in China is urgent, there is no need to provide arms support to the extent of the ongoing economic sanctions from the United States and Europe. However, China is expected to further strengthen its economic cooperation by importing energy such as oil and gas from Russia and exporting daily necessities. It does not seem easy for the two countries to come to a meaningful agreement on the war in Ukraine, but a clearer agreement can come regarding the breakdown of the international order centered on the United States. In an article, President Xi said, “There should be no first-class country, general national model, and international order determined by a particular country in the world.” . President Putin also demanded the establishment of a global order against the United States, saying, “Russia and China are always working to build an equal, open and inclusive regional and global security system.” Reporter Choi Hyeon-joon, Beijing/haojune@hani.co.kr