China’s top diplomat will host senior Russian official Sergei Shoigu for security talks in Beijing on Tuesday, as the two powers deepen relations that have triggered protest from the West.
Moscow and Beijing have expanded military and defence ties since Russia ordered troops into Ukraine nearly three years ago, with Chinese President Xi Jinping one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most important allies on the world stage.
But Beijing has also found itself increasingly stuck between a burgeoning alliance of Russia and North Korea, which has sent soldiers to Ukraine and this week ratified a landmark defence pact with Moscow.
On Tuesday, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will meet with Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, for “strategic security consultations”, Beijing said.
The two sides will discuss “major issues involving the two countries’ strategic security interests and enhancing mutual trust”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Monday.
Russia has …