BEIJIG, China: China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, will visit Russia this week for a BRICS security meeting, according to Beijing’s foreign ministry. Invited by Russian official Sergei Shoigu, Wang will attend a meeting of BRICS “high-ranking officials responsible for security matters” and national security advisers. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in St. Petersburg.
Wang’s visit precedes a significant BRICS summit in Kazan next month, which Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently confirmed his anticipation of Xi’s participation from October 22 to 24. This summit comes as Russia seeks stronger alliances amid heavy Western sanctions following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. China has been a crucial ally, with both countries boosting trade to record highs.
The BRICS group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents nearly half the world’s population. It recently expanded to include other emerging economies like the United Arab Emirates and Iran. The upcoming Kazan summit is seen as a chance for the group to enhance its influence and strengthen economic ties, with both Moscow and Beijing positioning themselves against what they perceive as “Western hegemony.”
China and Russia, which declared a “no limits” partnership before the Ukraine conflict, continue to solidify their economic and diplomatic relations. Last month, Putin praised the growing economic ties with China during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
