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Editorial | Talks in Russia send message to US ahead of key China meeting

Beijing refuses to be bullied in the eagerly awaited negotiations and has pledged with Moscow to defend multilateralism and oppose hegemony

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China’s President Xi Jinping arrives for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on May 8. Photo: EPA-EFE

The world’s eyes are on critical talks this weekend aimed at getting negotiations started between the United States and China on President Donald Trump’s trade war.

Almost on the eve of the meeting in Switzerland between the top Chinese and American economic officials, a summit in Moscow between presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cast a long shadow, setting the scene for intolerance of any attempt to coerce or bully China where its legitimate rights and interests are concerned.

The significance of this, on Xi’s 11th visit to Russia as president, should not be underestimated.

The immediate message – that Beijing and Moscow are hand in hand as bulwarks of multilateralism against US hegemony, the evil of protectionism and disruption of trade and supply chains – may not be surprising.

But it bears repeating loud and clear amid US efforts to isolate China by making deals during a tariff pause for every trade partner except Beijing, evidenced by a fresh trade deal with the United Kingdom that slashes levies on British cars and metals in return for reciprocal action on US products including ethanol – used to make beer – and beef imports.

“China is willing to work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities entrusted by the times and maintain the stability and smooth operation of the global multilateral trading system,” Xi said during the talks with Putin.

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