Beijing is set to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the “unprecedented” level of ties between the two countries ahead of his state visit.

It is perhaps not surprising the Russian leader has chosen China as his first foreign trip since he was sworn in for a fifth presidential term last week. The two-day state visit comes as their relationship reached its “highest level ever”, he told Chinese state media. He spoke of his interest in Chinese martial arts and philosophy, and said some of his family are learning Mandarin.

Because, while China is not selling arms to Russia, Washington and Brussels believe it is exporting tech and components essential for war. During his recent trip to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the BBC that China was “helping fuel the biggest threat” to European security since the Cold War.

Days before Russia invaded Ukraine, the two leaders announced a “no-limits” partnership to deepen co-operation. This made sense for the comrades in arms in their ideological struggle against the West.

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