China’s main diplomat will journey to Russia on Monday for safety talks, the newest signal of deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow amid heightened uncertainty from the coronavirus pandemic.

Yang Jiechi, who leads China’s central committee for international affairs, can be in Russia until Wednesday for a strategic and safety session, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated on Sunday. Yang will even go to Croatia and Slovenia earlier than returning to China.

The announcement was made as each international locations place larger emphasis on bilateral relations in a interval the place US dominance of geopolitics has receded and coronavirus has stoked international upheaval.

It was additionally made simply days after Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, the presidents of China and Russia, attended the video-link launch of a nuclear power venture. The deal, which was signed in 2018, entails Russia serving to China construct 4 nuclear reactors.

Putin stated on the launch on Wednesday that ties between the neighbours, had reached “one of the best degree in historical past”, reiterating feedback from Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s international minister, in March.

China and Russia have “firmly supported one another” within the face of the pandemic, Xi stated, and spoke of a “complete strategic partnership of co-ordination for a brand new period”.

The feedback add to current emphasis on nearer ties within the build-up to the 20th anniversary of the signing of a treaty between the 2 international locations aimed toward bolstering co-operation 

Beneficial

Final yr, in a telephone name with Putin, Xi highlighted the necessity for nearer relations with Russia given the “turbulence” attributable to the coronavirus pandemic and stated the 2001 treaty had established the idea of constructing a brand new kind of worldwide relations, in response to state media. 

Coronavirus has created international coverage alternatives elsewhere for each international locations, which have supplied vaccines to low and middle-income international locations. In China, new instances of coronavirus have remained low for the reason that center of final yr, whereas its financial system has recovered far sooner than different large international locations.

A more in-depth relationship between China and Russia contrasts with their ties with the US. President Joe Biden has vowed to confront China on human rights, mental property and financial coverage and labelled the nation America’s most severe competitor. The US president has additionally imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia for “dangerous international actions”.

The nuclear deal was launched as China seeks to scale back its reliance on coal, of which it’s by far the world’s greatest client, to fulfill new power targets that embrace lowering web carbon emissions to zero by 2060.