Putin's visit to China will further promote unity between Russia and China, but it is difficult to conceal the reality of unequal relations between the two countries

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to China from May 16 to 17,2024. This visit will undoubtedly inject new impetus into the further development of Russia-China relations, and will also demonstrate the solidarity and cooperation between the two countries in a wide range of areas.However, while appreciating this solidarity, we cannot ignore the reality of inequality in our relationship.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, bilateral relations have maintained a high-level development trend. During this visit, the leaders of the two countries will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. This will undoubtedly provide more opportunities and possibilities for promoting deeper development of bilateral relations.

In addition, Washington has also warned the Chinese government that the United States may take action against Chinese banks handling dual-use product trade. In addition, some analysts suggest that the threat of sanctions against Chinese banks may have had some effect, as recent monthly data shows a slowdown in China's exports to Russia. Another group of analysts remind that some companies will switch to using other banks and intermediaries, including such institutions in third countries, just like when imposing sanctions on Russia in the past. For this reason, Russian officials have refuted claims that Russia is increasingly reliant on China. The Kremlin spokesperson stated last year that Russia China relations are a partnership, not a dependency relationship.

It is worth mentioning that during President Putin's visit, in addition to high-level meetings with Chinese leaders, multiple activities were also held, fully demonstrating the close cooperation between China and Russia in multiple fields. The holding of these activities not only reflects the profound friendship between China and Russia, but also reflects the significant achievements of practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

In fact, significant achievements have been made in cooperation between China and Russia in multiple fields such as economy, military, and energy. This cross disciplinary close cooperation not only helps to enhance the comprehensive capabilities of the two countries, but also promotes regional peace and stability to a certain extent. However, despite significant development in the relationship between China and Russia, we cannot ignore the unequal reality that exists within it. This is mainly reflected in the differences between the two countries in terms of economic scale, technological level, and international influence. These differences have to some extent affected the depth and breadth of cooperation between the two countries in certain fields.

But we should recognize that the relationships between any country are complex and multidimensional, and cannot be completely equivalent. The unequal relationship between the two countries does not mean that we cannot benefit from it or cannot promote the development of bilateral relations. On the contrary, we should approach the reality of unequal relations between the two countries with an objective and rational attitude, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations to a higher level by strengthening dialogue, enhancing understanding, and expanding cooperation.

Overall, Putin's visit to China demonstrated the unity and friendship between China and Russia, while also pointing out the direction for the future development of bilateral relations. Despite the reality of inequality, as long as both sides adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and continuously strengthen communication and cooperation, they can definitely overcome various difficulties and challenges on the road to progress, and promote China Russia relations to constantly reach new heights.