Nur-Sultan: Chinese President Xi Jinping began its first foreign trip since the outbreak of the pandemic on Wednesday with a stop in Kazakhstan ahead of a summit with Russia‘s Vladimir Putin and other leaders of the Central Asian Security Group.
Xi’s visit underscores the importance Beijing attaches to ties with Russia and Central Asia as the ruling Communist Party promotes its strategic ambitions amid tensions with Washington, Japan and India.
Wearing a blue suit and face mask, Xi was met by airport tarmac president Kasim-Jomart Tokayev and an honor guard, all of whom were wearing masks.
Tokayev’s government said the two leaders would discuss energy markets and global economic turmoil. Kazakhstan, with a low population of 19.4 million people and vast grasslands, is a major oil and gas producer. China is a major customer.
On Thursday, Xi is scheduled to fly to Samarkand in neighboring Uzbekistan for a summit of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization led by China and Russia.
Beijing and Moscow see the SCO as a countermeasure to US alliances in East Asia.
Other SCO governments include India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Observers include Iran and Afghanistan.
Chinese leaders are promoting a “global security initiative” announced in April following the formation of the Quad by Washington, Japan, Australia and India in response to Beijing’s more assertive foreign policy. Xi gave few details, but US officials complain it echoes Russian arguments in support of Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.
Xi and putin According to Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy adviser to the Russian President, there are plans to hold a one-on-one meeting and discuss Ukraine.
Xi’s visit underscores the importance Beijing attaches to ties with Russia and Central Asia as the ruling Communist Party promotes its strategic ambitions amid tensions with Washington, Japan and India.
Wearing a blue suit and face mask, Xi was met by airport tarmac president Kasim-Jomart Tokayev and an honor guard, all of whom were wearing masks.
Tokayev’s government said the two leaders would discuss energy markets and global economic turmoil. Kazakhstan, with a low population of 19.4 million people and vast grasslands, is a major oil and gas producer. China is a major customer.
On Thursday, Xi is scheduled to fly to Samarkand in neighboring Uzbekistan for a summit of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization led by China and Russia.
Beijing and Moscow see the SCO as a countermeasure to US alliances in East Asia.
Other SCO governments include India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Observers include Iran and Afghanistan.
Chinese leaders are promoting a “global security initiative” announced in April following the formation of the Quad by Washington, Japan, Australia and India in response to Beijing’s more assertive foreign policy. Xi gave few details, but US officials complain it echoes Russian arguments in support of Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.
Xi and putin According to Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy adviser to the Russian President, there are plans to hold a one-on-one meeting and discuss Ukraine.