Russian PM Visits China to Expand Economic and Technological Cooperation

DID Press: Mikhail Mishustin, Russian Prime Minister, arrived in China on Monday, November 3, for a two-day visit to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss ways to expand economic and technological cooperation. The trip comes amid ongoing Western pressure on both Moscow and Beijing.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, Mishustin will have an official meeting with Premier Li in Hangzhou today and will travel to Beijing on Tuesday for talks with President Xi.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, emphasized the significance of this visit, although it has not been announced whether President Vladimir Putin will send a message to Xi through the Russian Prime Minister.

Relations between Moscow and Beijing have strengthened since the signing of the “no-limits” partnership in February 2022, just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia has sought to reduce the impact of Western sanctions by relying on China, increasing bilateral trade, using the yuan, and expanding energy cooperation.

Mishustin’s talks with Chinese officials are expected to focus on trade and economic collaboration, transport and industry, enhancing energy partnerships, advanced technologies, and agriculture. Russian state media have described industrial and technological cooperation with Beijing as a stable form of long-term collaboration that is less dependent on market conditions.

The Russian Prime Minister’s visit takes place amid ongoing trade and technology tensions between the US and China, prompting both countries to strengthen cross-border cooperation and counter Western pressures.