China and Russia join forces to dominate the Arctic and confront the West

China and Russia are closer to an agreement on Arctic shipping routes, with both countries seeking to expand economic cooperation to counter Western pressure.

In Moscow on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin signed a joint statement agreeing to develop Arctic shipping routes, under a consensus reached in May in Beijing between the two countries’ presidents.

It was part of a larger commitment that their nations would consolidate traditional partnerships in oil and gas production while developing cooperation in emerging sectors such as science and technology and the digital economy.

The statement stressed that “the consolidation of China-Russia relations is a strategic choice made by both sides based on the broad fundamental common interests of the two countries and their peoples, and is not affected by changes in the international situation.”

“Both sides resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and oppose any attempts to obstruct the normal development of bilateral relations, interfere in the internal affairs of the two countries, and restrict the economic, technological and international space of the two countries.”

In the statement, both sides also pledged support for their mutual sovereignty. While Russia said it opposed any form of independence for Taiwan, Beijing said it supported Russia’s territorial integrity.

Li is visiting Russia for the annual meeting between the two heads of government before traveling to Belarus. He was also received by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

The meeting came as China and Russia seek to make their economies more resilient in the face of Western pressure over Beijing’s growing international influence and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has increasingly turned to China to help develop an Arctic sea route that could cut its shipping times to Asia by nearly half, as its sanctions-hit economy continues to rely heavily on its Asian trading partners.

Beijing maintained close business ties with Moscow throughout the war, with several Chinese companies being sanctioned by the US and Europe for allegedly transferring dual-use goods that strengthened Russia’s defense base.

Both sides condemned “unilateral” sanctions and pledged to expand the mutual use of their own currencies in trade, which already accounts for 95 percent of transactions. The two countries would also push for institutional reform of the Bretton Woods system to further reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar, the document said.

Amid Western sanctions that have largely affected Russian gas supplies to Europe, Moscow has also sought to speed up construction of the controversial Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline, which would cross Mongolia between China and Russia. Progress has reportedly slowed due to price disagreements. The recent exclusion of the project from Mongolia’s 2028 development plan has also cast further uncertainty over the pipeline.

Without mentioning the pipeline, Beijing and Moscow said in the joint statement that they would work to implement important cooperation projects and tasks in the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.

The two countries also agreed to continue engaging in “constructive dialogue” over allowing Chinese cargo ships to pass through the lower Tumen River, a major waterway between China, Russia and North Korea that would give Beijing access to the Sea of ​​Japan, or East Sea.

Russia and North Korea are believed to be hesitant to open the waterway to Beijing, concerned that it could further expand Chinese influence in the region. Relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have been strained following North Korea’s alleged arms deliveries to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Beijing appears wary of engaging in a trilateral axis with Russia and North Korea as it remains engaged with Western countries, which view alliances between the three nations as potential threats.

On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden had ordered American forces to prepare for possible coordinated nuclear confrontations with Russia, China and North Korea, given their nuclear capabilities. In response, Beijing criticized Washington for being the world’s “biggest nuclear threat-maker.”

Mishustin and Li also signed a protocol for China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the Russian Joint Institute for Nuclear Research to jointly fund cooperative research projects.

During the meeting with Putin, Li said that China would work with Russia to develop more opportunities for cooperation in the fields of science and technology.

“China is willing to work with Russia… to pay more attention to the use of scientific and technological innovation as well as industrial innovation to boost cooperation and constantly cultivate new economic growth points,” Li said.

Via News Agencies