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Xi and Putin to mark expansion of China-Russia nuclear power project ahead of US talks
- Leaders will watch a ceremony by video link on Wednesday, a day before high-level meeting between Washington and Moscow
- China and Russia are seen to be moving closer as relations with America deteriorate, and technology has become a focus
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Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a virtual meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in a show of solidarity ahead of high-level talks between Washington and Moscow.
During the talks by video link, Xi and Putin will watch the launch ceremony of an expanded China-Russia nuclear energy project, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
It will mark the construction of four new reactors at two nuclear plants in China, in Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces, both of which use Russian technology, according to Chinese media reports.
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Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the two countries aimed to further strengthen bilateral relations and Wednesday’s exchange would be “of great significance” to the strategic partnership between the two countries “in a new era”.
Observers said the ceremony would be a show of the deepening relationship between the two countries – often referred to as a marriage of convenience based on oil and gas and their common adversary, the United States. Technology, including plans to build a lunar space station together, has become a new focus of their cooperation.
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