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In China, the Kremlin said, Mr. Putin will join Mr. Xi on Wednesday for meetings accompanied by ministers. The two men will also meet one-on-one. <\/p>\n
Among Mr. Putin\u2019s top priorities is the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would help redirect Russian gas supplies that historically have gone to Europe toward China instead. It is unclear how much Beijing supports the project, which requires constructing a pipeline through Mongolia.<\/p>\n
Mr. Xi is Mr. Putin\u2019s most important partner on the global stage, providing the embattled Russian leader with diplomatic cover and a financial lifeline after Western-led countries sought to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n
China remains the senior partner in the relationship, but the weak recovery of China\u2019s economy from the pandemic has improved Russia\u2019s bargaining position since the two leaders last met, in Moscow in March, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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For China, the status quo suits its interests. The stabilization of the frontline in Ukraine means that Beijing does not need to dramatically intervene on Russia\u2019s side to prevent a military defeat that could shake Putin\u2019s grip on power. And the drawn-out, inconclusive war leaves Russia economically and diplomatically dependent on China, and too distracted to counter Beijing in areas where their geopolitical interests overlap, such as Central Asia.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is not ready to throw Russia under the bus,\u201d Mr. Gabuev said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin declared a \u201cno limits\u201d partnership just weeks before Moscow\u2019s invasion, to signal their alignment in opposing what they call U.S. hegemony. While that alignment still holds, China has had to hedge its relationship with Russia to manage its ties with important trading partners such as the European Union.<\/p>\n
China has tried to cast itself as neutral on the war, which has entered its 21st month. Earlier this year, Beijing issued a proposed political settlement to end the fighting, though the plan was criticized by Washington and some of its allies for protecting Russian interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Russia has also tried to demonstrate that it has autonomy in its relationship with China. Mr. Putin hosted North Korea\u2019s leader, Kim Jong-un, in Russia last month \u2014 a move seen as a hedge by Moscow against Beijing.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina prefers to maintain an independent and autonomous diplomatic image in the international community,\u201d said Xiao Bin, a researcher for the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. \u201cRussia cannot become more dependent on China because it has become very clear that China does not want to stand on the same side completely with Russia on all issues. China has its own practical problems to solve.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n