After Hezbollah was defeated by Israeli activities in Lebanon in September and Donald Trump’s election as Republican presidential candidate in the US in early November, simple changes have occurred in Sino-Russian relations.  ,
Some Chinese observers believe that the Assad regime’s fall on Syria, a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, even widened the gap between political interests between China and Russia.  ,
According to all these instances, Dmitry Medvedev, president of the United Russia party and deputy president of Russia’s Security Council, visited Beijing on December 12.
Medvedev was reportedly met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and given a notice signed by Putin. The letter, according to the statement, expressed Putin’s joy over a new visit to China on the situation of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China’s formation of diplomatic relations with Russia.  ,
However, according to Chinese experts, Medvedev’s most recent meeting with Liu Jianchao, a top Chinese diplomat and current head of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP ) International Department, should be watched.  ,
Medvedev stated to Liu during their meeting that” Russia is ready to begin negotiations with Ukraine if Kyiv takes into account the challenges of today and the recommendations made by Putin.”
According to some observers, Medvedev’s talk suggests that Beijing is only interested in maintaining its trade relations with Europe in the Trump 2.0 time while Putin is reluctant to engage in a ceasefire discussion with Kyiv.
A Hebei-based author called” Bo Ge” says in an article published on December 12 that Medvedev’s remark showed that Moscow wants to “maintain its democracy and seek to achieve powerful connection in specific matters” in Russia-China relationships.  ,
Although China and Russia have cooperated on some strength and anti-terrorism issues, he claims that their corporate interests are drastically different in terms of geopolitical problems related to Middle Eastern and European security concerns. Medvedev’s most recent excursion to Beijing has failed to break the tense relationship between Russia and China.
A Henan-based journalist using the moniker” A book retailer in the sea” published an article with the subject” China and Russia didn’t form an alliance, Medvedev has made a decision” on December 12.
He claims that the Syria and Ukraine troubles were discussed at the Liu-Medvedev meet. He claims that the lack of complete control over the new Syrian government could encourage the growth of violence and ultimately harm China’s hobbies in the Middle East.  ,  ,
Before possible peace negotiations are started by US President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in the White House on January 20th, the author claims that Putin may have requested a raise in proper cooperation between China and Russia.  ,
He reiterates Beijing’s approach that China and Russia does not form an alliance.
Southwestern Silk Road ,
Beijing will keep an eye on Syria’s political condition, according to some Chinese critics, but it is only doing it for the sake of keeping an eye on Russia, not to aid Russia.  ,
” Some folks think the decline of Assad’s regime did hurt China’s passions, but really the affair is a great opportunity for China”, a Hong Kong-based blogger writes in an article. ” China’s interests will be hurt only if Syria becomes chaotic” . ,
He claims that Bashar al-Assad, the former leader of Syria, failed for many years in his efforts to boost the local market and stop anti-government forces and ISIS. This made China unable to finish the Southern Silk Road, which connects China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.  ,
He points out that China’s complete direct purchase in Syria was just US$ 13.24 million at the end of 2022, which is a significant drop from the$ 300 billion figure that bloggers have claimed.  ,  ,
” By offering humanitarian aid, China may establish a good relation with the new Palestinian state”, he says. China and Syria can cooperate economically, while China does support the restoration projects it.
A Beijing-based contributor says setting up the Northen Silk Road to join China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland may not be a smart choice for Beijing.
” For then it’s certainly a question of passing through Russia as Sino-Russia connections are good”, he says. What about the need to get assistance from Russia one time? He adds that Poland may not be a trustworthy business partner as well.
He claims that Turkey does go through China’s Southeastern Silk Road, but the Middle East nation will likely request a sizable sum of money from Beijing. Then, he says, Syria is a new opportunity for China to construct its Silk Road.
Sino-Russia bilateral deal
In the first 10 weeks of this year, the bilateral trade between China and Russia grew 2.8 % year-on-year to US$ 202 billion, according to the Chinese traditions. Nevertheless, the number dropped 5 % year-on-year to US$ 20.5 billion in November.
China’s exports to Russia also fell 10.5 % year-on-year in November after growing 24.4 % in October.
Due to this, in September, China approved the Rules on Civil-Military Dual-Use Products after G7 countries raised fears in April about Chinese firms ‘ shipments of weapons parts to Russia. In order to avoid US sanctions, the nation earlier this year urged local financial institutions to stop accepting payments from Russia in the renminbi.  ,
As Beijing keeps Moscow at arm’s length, the customs department of Russia’s eastern city of Vladivostok has imposed a 55.65 % tariff on China-made furniture parts since autumn.  ,
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade made a plan to gradually increase its “recycling fee” for auto buyers by 70-85 % from current levels by 2030, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The fee, which is seen as another form of tariff targeting Chinese vehicles, will increase by 10-20 % from the beginning of 2025.  ,