Hey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is not young, he is 74 years old, and he has to come to China to sit and chat with our Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two of them have something to say, from cooperation to chaos in Ukraine, and possible surprises. This may be the last time Lavrov will come to China as foreign minister, and Putin may also come in May.
Let's start with Lavrov, Russia's old foreign minister. I think back then, he began to take charge of the banner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2004, and it has been 20 years now, how trustworthy it is to have such a long tenure. However, in the changing political arena, at the age of 74, his visit to China may be the time to wave goodbye. Why? The rule in Russia is that as soon as the president is sworn in, the government has to be changed, from the prime minister to the ministers.
Some people say that Putin may really replace Lavrov this time and let him go to the upper house to enjoy the blessings. There is a weather vane here, Novak, Russia's deputy prime minister in charge of energy, who has been haunting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lately, and it is rumored that he may take Lavrov's class. This Novak, unlike Lavrov, has been in the energy circle for many years and has in-depth cooperation with many countries, including China.
When it comes to Sino-Russian cooperation, we have to mention the "China-Russia-Mongolia cross-border natural gas pipeline", which is called "Power of Siberia 2" by Russia. This thing has been talked about for a while, and Novak is the general of the negotiations. He was still tough in March last year, saying that he would try to finalize the contract by the end of the year, but until now, he is still talking. If Putin comes to China in May, we have to pay attention to whether there is a new breakthrough in this matter.
Having said that, Russia's foreign minister, the real power is still in Putin's hands. Therefore, whether it is Lavrov or Novak, the big foreign policy boss will not change, and Putin has the final say. However, there is another important topic for Lavrov's visit to China this time, that is, the peace summit in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year, the Ukrainian side has been beckoning, hoping that China can participate in the Swiss peace summit, and even Swiss Foreign Minister Cassis personally came forward to ask China to do a favor.
This is not a trivial matter for China. You know, the powder keg of Ukraine has always been the focus of international attention. As a major country, China must be cautious about whether or not to participate and how to participate. When Lavrov came to this trip, in addition to having tea and chatting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he definitely had to talk about this matter. After all, the contradictions between Russia and Ukraine are not small, and if China can really play a role in this international chess game, its influence will not be covered.
Besides, the possibility of Putin's visit to China in May is also quite exciting. Putin's first foreign visit since taking office was an interesting choice. For example, his first foreign trip in his fourth term was to China's old neighbor Belarus, or to Austria, a Western country with which Russia has good relations. If he really chooses the first stop of his fifth term in China this time, it will really make sense. What does this mean? It means that Sino-Russian relations may reach a new level.
You see, China and Russia have been strengthening cooperation over the years, both in the economic and political fields. If Putin comes this time, it will definitely not be just a tea chat. Lavrov's visit is likely to pave the way for Putin's visit. This may also include the issue of the "Power of Siberia 2" gas pipeline, after all, this is a major event related to the future energy cooperation between China and Russia, and Russia must hope to finalize it soon.
But then again, there is more to Russia's side than just Sino-Russian cooperation. You think, Russia's side is not peaceful now, the matter in Ukraine has not completely subsided, and the sanctions of Western countries have not added to Russia's blockage. In addition to talking about cooperation, Putin's visit to China must have other considerations. No, the United States has begun to get nervous, worried that the further strengthening of Sino-Russian cooperation will affect their global strategic layout.
So, whether Lavrov's visit can bring any new trends to the peace summit in Ukraine, whether it can pave the way for Putin's visit to China, and whether it can bring new surprises to Sino-Russian relations are the focus of everyone's attention. In any case, this visit will not be a simple diplomatic courtesy, and every move will have to be made smartly.
For China, this is not only an opportunity to properly handle bilateral relations with Russia, but also a moment to demonstrate diplomatic wisdom and strategic determination in the international chess game. After all, the world is changing so fast that every high-level visit can trigger a series of chain reactions.
It seems that Lavrov's visit to China is only the beginning of the story. His meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Putin's possible visit to China are worth waiting for. This is not only an interaction between the diplomacy of the two countries, but also a key node in the future direction of international relations.