Putin in the warm embrace of the Red Dragon

In a critical reshuffle of the world's archaic political stage, Russia's PM Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao are looking to lay the first BRICS of a new relationship in Beijing today.

From aerospace to nano-development and energy – there is much on the table at this much-hyped meeting.It is significant that this state visit is Vladimir Putin’s first since he announcing his presidential ambitions in the upcoming presidential elections in 2012. This looks like a strong sign that Russia is changing the focus of its foreign policy. For decades – if not centuries – relations with the West have dominated Russia’s foreign policy, but it seems the 21st century is bringing a sea-change with trade winds now blowing from an easterly direction. Doubtless it is China’s economic progress over the last three decades that has made Moscow look to the East with growing interest.Just recently, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said that he was happy with the steadily-consolidated bilateral trade, scientific and technical ties with Russia’s biggest neighbor.The constantly-expanding strategic partnership between one of the world’s biggest and fastest-developing economies – China – and the world’s largest source of energy supplies – Russia – could turn around the power balance of the modern world.Both nations have supported each other throughout the years on issues relating to sovereignty and security, as well as economic and military development.Russia and China’s political views coincide on many issues, as was confirmed at the recent UN Security Council vote on the situation in Syria, when both Beijing and Moscow used their veto to block a harsh, European-drafted resolution which condemned the regime of President Bashar Assad. The resolution suggested that the country could face sanctions if it continued its crackdown on the well-armed, foreign-inspired opposition which has been terrorizing public authorities and the police.Both Russia and China are the backbone of the BRICS alliance, also uniting India, Brazil and South Africa. The continuing uncertainty of the European and American economies has seriously undermined the dominance of the EU and the US on the world’s political stage. The global economic crisis has cleared the way for emerging powers like Russia and China.With Europe struggling for economic survival, Moscow is turning its gaze towards Beijing. Trade between the two countries is expected to top a record-breaking $70 billion this year, making China Russia’s greatest trading partner.  Vladimir Putin has stated that by 2020, the Russia-China trade turnover could well reach $200 billion.

Prime Minister Putin did not come to China alone. He arrived with a large delegation, which includes Russian business tycoons. In the course of the visit, some US $7 billion worth of deals have been signed. They include agreements spearheaded by Russia’s state investment bank, Vnesheconombank (VEB), which also helped establish the Russian-Chinese Investment Fund (RCIF).Plans to set up a US $3-4 billion investment fund have been announced by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and China Investment Corporation (CIC). The two, together with the VEB, have signed the relevant memorandum of intent.Energy has always been a major priority in bilateral economic affairs between the two countries. The two prime ministers say they have finally resolved all their disagreements related to Russia’s oil supply. The gas talks, however, have been lagging. Moscow and Beijing insist they are in the final stage of negotiations, but a binding agreement has yet to be reached.China is expected to benefit from Russia’s leading role in the space industry, nuclear energy and aviation. Russia, on the other hand, is expected to profit from China’s advanced technological and industrial development.This year, Russia and China mark ten years since signing a treaty of good and friendly neighborhood co-operation.Officials from both countries say that relations between the two countries are the best in many years and Vladimir Putin will undoubtedly use his visit to strengthen that.

Towards a Russia-China union

Observers of Russia-China relations usually focus on economic co-operation, but there is great potential for an even closer union in international affairs, believes Dr Baozhi Qu of the Skolkovo Institute for Emerging Market Studies in Beijing.“When economic co-operation intensifies, there is a lot of potential and further space to explore,” the senior research fellow says, as “geographically speaking, China and Russia have every reason to actually form a closer pact in dealing with mutually interesting international affairs.”The growing ties between the two sides will definitely raise concerns in the US and Europe because “the emerging markets represented by China, Russia, India and Brazil have the potential to change the world’s landscape in a fundamental way,” believes Dr Baozhi Qu, noting that neither the US nor Europe have the means to reverse that trend.“The emerging markets will rise,” he said, “but there is a long way to go.”

Francis Lun, managing director of investment company Lyncean Holdings told RT the friendship between Russia and China will not make the West happy.“Europe and the US will not be happy. They are joined together in the form of NATO which is approaching Russia’s borders. And of course Russia would not like this to happen. In the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, the USA is a dictator. China and Russia, as permanent Security Council members, have a veto right. In this area they can do a lot and be a counterweight to the US,” he said.“We – China and Russia – have some common history which means we can more easily understand each other. Also, both China and Russia are in the course of modernization and economic and political reform, so in many things we can understand each other,” commented Professor Feng Shaolei, an expert on Sino-Russian relations and Director of the Center for Russian Studies at the East China Normal University.

Russia and China value bilateral relations too much to risk jeopardizing them, but too few in the West comprehend that reality, argued Augusto Soto, a professor at the Esade business and management school in Barcelona.“We do not need to be afraid of the threat coming from the East,” he said. “When they talk in the European Union… about the threat from China and Russia – I do not believe that.”