Mishustin visits China to bolster trade and tech ties amid Western pressure

The Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin left for a two-day visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Monday. The meeting will focus on economic, technological consultations and mutual cooperation amid escalating tensions from the West.  

As reported by TASS agency, the visit will be a heads-of-government meeting with Premier Li which is scheduled on Monday and later will proceed for talks with Chinese President Xi regarding rare earth conflict and tariff trade.

The Kremlin attached the very most importance and the primary reason for Mikhail’s visit. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, “The Kremlin attached “very great” importance to Mishustin’s visit to China,.”

The last heads-of-government meeting between China and Russia took place in Moscow in August 2024, where Li praised the “new vigor” and “vitality” in bilateral ties.

To counter Western pressure over trade and tech under US President Donald Trump, has encouraged both the states Moscow and Beijing to come together and strengthen cross-border ties.  

Russia and China have already signed partnerships and the “no limits” partnership was signed before Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has turned to Beijing to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions, highlighting record bilateral trade, increased settlements in yuan and deepening energy cooperation.

The trade between the two states has been declining recently, which the Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov attributed to “external” economic pressure and “market saturation” of Chinese products in Russia.

The Chinese currency yuan reported the biggest drop to 21 per cent year, which is the lowest in seven months. Mishustin’s visit will majorly focus on trade ties, transport and industrial cooperation. TASS reported the focus will be on collaboration in the advanced tech sector and energy supplies.  

(With inputs from Reuters)