6 things about Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang's visit to Russia, Belarus

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang on Tuesday (August 20) began his visit to Russia and Belarus.

From the leaders involved to the purpose of his visit to the signal being sent to the West, here are six things to know about Li’s trip:
1. Who are the leaders involved?

The key leaders involved in the visit are Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.

2. What is the purpose of these visits? What will the discussions be about?

The purpose of the visits is to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia, as well as to strengthen ties with Belarus.

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Discussions will focus on bilateral relations, practical cooperation in various fields such as trade, economy, energy, and emerging sectors like technological innovation and cross-border e-commerce, according to Xinhua.

The leaders will also discuss key geopolitical issues and implement the strategic direction set by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

3. Why is the visit important in terms of timing?

The visit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Russia. But more importantly, it comes on the heels of Ukrainian military incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk. It is  the first high-level Chinese visit to Russia since this incident.

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The timing is important in terms of not only showing support to Moscow amid growing pressure, but also for Beijing to discuss implications of Ukraine’s latest offensive.

Belarus, on the other hand, officially became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) just last month. It marked a transition from the observer state status it held since 2015. China and Belarus also put up a robust display of firepower in drills near the Poland border around the same time the Nato summit was happening.

Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of China’s regional rival, India, is visiting Poland and Ukraine around the same time, revealing New Delhi’s influence and ambitions in geopolitical relationship building.

4. What kind of signal is being sent out to the West?

The visit sends a clear signal to the West that China is steadfast in its support for Russia despite Western criticism and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It shows China’s willingness to maintain and even strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia in line with its own interests, regardless of external pressures or geopolitical tensions.

5. What are the economic and geopolitical implications of the visits?

Economically, the visits are likely to result in deeper trade and investment ties between China and Russia, particularly in sectors like energy, manufacturing, and technological innovation. The growing economic interdependence could help both countries mitigate the impact of Western sanctions and economic pressures.

Geopolitically, the visits reinforce the alignment between China and Russia in countering Western influence and promoting a multipolar world order. By strengthening ties with Russia and Belarus, China is solidifying its presence and influence in the region, which could have broader implications for global power dynamics and the ongoing geopolitical rivalry with the West.

6. Are China and Russia creating a broad alliance?

According to DW, the visits by Li to Russia and Belarus will highlight a broadening alliance where Beijing and