SHUMAILA ASLAM
Scandinavian News Agency
Bureau Chief Pakistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a rare and unusually long visit to China, underlining the strength of ties with Beijing at a critical moment in the Ukraine war.
The Kremlin called the trip “unprecedented.” Putin is expected to stay for almost a week, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, meeting President Xi Jinping, and joining China’s Victory Day military parade.
The parade marks 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War II and will also feature North Korea’s Kim Jong-un along with leaders from Iran and Cuba.
Analysts believe the central issue will be Ukraine. Both leaders are expected to coordinate their positions as the United States pushes for an end to the conflict.
“It’s an important time for them to discuss the future of the war and whether it can be stopped soon,” said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre.
Moscow is keen to know how much more support it can expect from Beijing and how China would react if Washington demanded it pressure Russia to scale back the war.
Experts say the conflict has become a pillar of the China-Russia relationship.
China has kept Russia’s economy afloat throughout the war, offering crucial trade and financial support.
At the same time, Ukraine has openly accused Beijing of helping Moscow’s war effort, a claim China denies.
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