Russia breaks Western sanctions

SGGP 10/14/2023 06:52

China's purchase of Russia's top fossil fuel has played a huge role in helping Russia bypass Western sanctions...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has just concluded a two-day official visit (October 12-13) to Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country with close ties to Russia. After that, the Russian President is expected to go to China to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Influence in Central Asia

These are considered two important visits by the Russian leader to break the economic siege of the West. According to the South China Morning Post, the focus of Mr. Putin's visit to Kyrgyzstan is the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a group of several former Soviet republics.

At a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Putin stressed Russia's role as an important trade partner and the largest investor in the Kyrgyz economy.

Russia’s relations with the CIS members have been tested by the pressure of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. This was preceded by a series of meetings between the presidents of the five Central Asian countries and US President Joe Biden and the European Union (EU) leaders to seek to develop transport corridors and alternative sources of energy imports to Russia.

According to Nikkei Asia, Ms. Kate Mallinson, associate in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Chatham House policy research institute (UK), commented that through the CIS summit, Mr. Putin showed the West that he is not isolated and still retains influence. Except for Georgia, Ukraine and most recently Moldova, which have left the CIS, most of the remaining countries are loyal allies of Russia.

Last week, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev traveled to Moscow with President Vladimir Putin to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a gas pipeline supplying gas from Russia to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan.

A Russian oil refinery. Photo: The Moscow Times/VNA

Mutually beneficial relationship

“The relationship between Russia and China in the field of economic cooperation has reached a very high level,” President Vladimir Putin said recently at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Tass news agency reported.

According to the International Energy Agency, Russia is currently China's largest supplier of crude oil, with about 80% of China's oil imports coming from Russia, bringing in an estimated $15.3 billion in revenue for Moscow.

In contrast, Russia imports most of its consumer goods from China. Data from China’s General Administration of Customs shows that bilateral trade rose to $21.18 billion in September, the highest since February 2022, when Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine.

According to AP, Mr. Joseph Nye Jr., professor emeritus of Harvard Kennedy School (USA), assessed that China's purchase of Russia's leading fossil fuels plays a huge role in helping Russia overcome Western sanctions.

Mr. Ali Wyne, senior analyst at Eurasia Group Consulting Company (USA), said that China balances its relations with Russia and the EU because both are important partners of Beijing and the nature of the relationship is mutually beneficial.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nga-pha-the-cam-van-cua-phuong-tay-post709721.html