Reshaping the Post-War World Order

Amid multiple global crises, Russia and China reaffirm their no-limits partnership

- SHYAM SARAN

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid an important visit to Moscow from May 7 to 10, his 11th since taking office in 2012. He was the chief guest at the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan by the allied forces—including the then Soviet Union and Republic of China. Mr Xi had attended similar festivities in Moscow 10 years ago. This year was special because not only was he the chief guest, but a unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) took part in the victory parade at the Red Square. The visit and the pomp and show surrounding it were a symbolic reaffirmation of the close ties between the two countries. There was an impressive substantive dimension to the visit, with over 20 bilateral cooperation agreements being signed in addition to an elaborate joint statement.

The visit attracted less international attention because it was overshadowed by the news of the United States (US) and China reaching a deal on substantially reducing the tit-for-tat tariffs they had imposed on each other, triggering an unprecedented trade war. The reduction in tariffs, which will apply for three months while negotiations take place on a more enduring bilateral agreement, has been widely seen as a climb down by US President Donald Trump and a victory for China.