Countering US dominance: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping meet to ramp up their ‘no limits’ friendship

This was the first in-person meeting between the two world leaders since the start of the Ukraine war. It is also the return of China’s Xi to the world stage with his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic almost three years ago.

An attempt to counter US dominance

The meeting was largely regarded as an attempt to ramp up their ‘no limits’ friendship and deepen economic ties, especially in the realm of energy by announcing new gas pipelines.

It was also an opportunity for the two to discuss prevalent security issues and counter the U.S. dominance in the world, as President Putin said 'U.S. attempts to create a unipolar world would fail.'

Seven months into the Ukraine war, Russia’s economy is battered by the multitude of sanctions imposed by the West. Reports suggest that Russia’sGross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen by 4% in the second quarter. Conversely, the growth of the Chinese economy has slowed down over this period, most markedly because of its ‘zero COVID’ policy that is continuing to impose strict lockdown mandates and border controls.

However, analysts suggest that this is not a meeting of two equals. The latter is a superpower with the world’s fastest-growing economy, while the former is a dwindling superpower that is fighting a draining war in Ukraine and trying to build new export markets away from the West.

A ‘high-stakes’ rendez-vous

Russia’s ‘special military operation’ is far from going according to Moscow’s plan, having conceded this past week large swaths of territory that it had previously occupied in the east of Ukraine.

Xi did not mention Ukraine in his public remarks, and neither did a readout of the meeting by Chinese state television CCTV. In contrast to that, Putin publicly backed Chinese interests regarding Taiwan by saying 'We condemn provocations by the United States and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait.'

The meeting between two leaders is another testament to a united front between China and Russia for countering the Western influence led by the U.S., which is pressuring both countries uniquely and close to their borders.

This was the 39th meeting between the two world leaders and is preceding a much anticipated Biden-Xi meeting expected during the upcoming G-20 Summit in November which would be merely the first physical meeting since the former became U.S. President in 2021.

Leading up to the meeting both countries agreed to use yuan and rubbles and forego U.S. dollars in their energy trade. According to Reuters, During the SCO Summit, the two leaders also met Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to signal the construction of new oil and gas pipelines from Russia to China via Mongolia and thus further deepening economic and regional cooperation in Central Asia.

Sources used:

- Wall Street Journal:‘China Declared Its Russia Friendship Had ‘No Limits.’ It’s Having Second Thoughts’

- Reuters: ‘Putin says Xi has questions and concerns over Ukraine’

- Aljazeera: ‘Russia ministry says economic slump less severe than feared’

- Aljazeera: ‘Hat in hand’: Putin meets Xi for first time since Ukraine war’

- Reuters: ‘Putin says Xi has questions and concerns over Ukraine’

- Bloomberg: ‘Xi Returns to World Stage With Putin to Counter US Dominance’

- CNBC:‘Biden says he’s ‘sure’ he will see Xi at the G-20 summit if Chinese president attends’

- CNN: ‘Russia says China will start paying for gas in rubles and yuan’

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