China's Xi arrives in Moscow for high-stakes visit

Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a closely watched visit that underscores Beijing’s growing strategic alignment with Russia.

Xi’s visit—his 11th to Russia as president—is set to include bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and his participation in the Victory Day military parade on Red Square on Friday. 

Energy cooperation—including talks on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline—as well as further economic agreements are high on the summit agenda. China has become Russia’s largest trading partner and key energy client.

The Kremlin has touted Xi’s visit as a powerful symbol of global support. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called it “one of the central events in Russian-Chinese relations this year.”

Xi’s trip to Russia may mark a turning point in post-war global alignments, as Beijing and Moscow present themselves as defenders of the existing international order.

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