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Sino-Russian ties a lesson in how to build relations

The United States and its allies are wrong to see improving ties between Beijing and Moscow as a threat

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Photo: EPA

After the US, China and Russia are the world’s most significant powers. Their moving closer through strategic cooperation and trade and investment deals is viewed uncomfortably by some in the West. Each time President Xi Jinping (習近平) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin meet one another, as they did last month, concerns heighten that an alliance is being formed to challenge the existing global order. But such worries are groundless; common interests and a desire to build friendly ties are driving relations.

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Xi and Putin have met 13 times over the past three years, far more than they have other leaders. The Chinese president has gone to Moscow five times and Putin’s latest visit to Beijing was his fourth. There will be more talks when China hosts the G20 summit in Hangzhou (杭州) in September. Given that the nations are neighbours with a 4,200km border, have a similar world outlook and only recently settled historical grievances but still have a measure of suspicion towards one another, such frequent interaction is understandable.

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