"Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe. China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. China also has ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia's weapons industries."
Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing with a formal ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Bilateral talks followed, with cooperation agreements planned for signing. The visit comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip to China, while Russian officials said there was no connection between the visits. Xi and Putin are expected to discuss energy and security and broaden overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001. China has become Russia’s top trading partner since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, buying major volumes of Russian oil and gas. China maintains trade ties despite U.S. and European sanctions and continues providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.
#china-russia-relations #energy-cooperation #security-cooperation #us-china-diplomacy #sanctions-and-trade
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