M Santhananaban
Beijing’s status as a key diplomatic destination of the first order was on full display over the last week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on 19 May for his 25th official visit – this time to consolidate what both sides describe as an “unprecedentedly high level” of bilateral cooperation, just four days after US President Donald Trump had come and gone.
The contrast between the two visits is hard to miss.
Trump’s approach was, by most accounts, transactional: business deals, leverage and the art of the bargain.
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Putin came not to seek business opportunities but to consolidate cordial cooperation on energy, overall strategy and China–Russia synergy. China is clearly the senior partner in this evolving relationship, which is bereft of the transactional elements present in Trump’s approach.
A summit of substance
Putin concluded a highly successful two-day visit to Beijing. The Chinese and Russian leaders drew satisfaction from their “unprecedentedly high level” of bilateral cooperation, good neighbourliness and trust.
More than 40 bilateral agreements on trade, energy, transport, technology, artificial intelligence and other issues were also signed.
There was also a broad understanding on the need to protect the sovereignty of all nations and to work within the UN framework to address international security issues.
Unlike the Trump visit, high-level officials and technocrats from both sides were given a significant role in projecting the vision for a broader and more sustainable understanding between the two countries.
Beijing’s balancing act
Against this backdrop, contrasts with the Trump visit are inevitably drawn.
Beijing is making a point: within days, Xi hosted the leaders of both the United States and Russia, and managed to project equanimity throughout.
Meanwhile, the situation involving Iran remains a concern, with both China and Russia signalling an affinity with the Iranian cause in a discreet and indirect manner.
One can only hope for some progress on securing a safer passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Trump is back in Washington – back, it seems, to his warmongering mode.
Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.
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You should also have written an article on Modi’s visit to the Nordic countries. He is after all the PM of the world’s most populus democracy. Not an unelected leader of a country with an abysmal recorded on human rights and civil liberties.