Difficult to Achieve Substantial Results in US-Russia Talks... Emphasis on China-Russia Ties
Unusually Reporting Atmosphere at Geneva Venue Ahead of Biden-Putin Meeting
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese media claimed that the upcoming US-Russia summit scheduled for the 16th (local time) will be a 'futile effort' and that the US will not get what it wants from Russia.
China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the meeting between President Biden and President Putin will be held at 1 p.m. on the 16th at an old villa (Villa La Grange) located in Geneva, Switzerland. Xinhua conveyed that the atmosphere was highly tense with 3,000 police officers deployed at the meeting venue. The fact that Chinese media reported on the local atmosphere in Switzerland indicates how closely they are monitoring the US-Russia summit.
Xinhua explained that the relationship between the two countries has been continuously tense to the extent that President Biden referred to President Putin as a 'murderer' and 'dictator,' making it difficult to improve bilateral relations at this summit.
Quoting Russian officials, Xinhua reported that the agenda will cover strategic stability, cybersecurity, COVID-19, Arctic climate change, and the issue of detained nationals from both countries, but no major breakthroughs between the two countries are expected. It further predicted that due to the very low level of mutual trust, it is difficult to expect normalization of bilateral relations.
Global Times reaffirmed the close ties between China and Russia ahead of the Russia-US summit and confidently stated that the US's China threat theory will not work on Russia. It emphasized that such US efforts will only result in further strengthening the relationship between China and Russia.
Professor Jin Kanlong of Renmin University said in an interview with Global Times, "Russia has very painful memories of being betrayed and deceived by the US," and bluntly stated, "The biggest gain President Biden can get from this meeting with President Putin is nothing more than slowing down the deteriorating relationship."
Professor Jin even pointed out that the US is like a patient with a problematic mindset. He claimed, "The US knows it is sick but does not go to the hospital to find the real cause; instead, it only lashes out at those around it," and added, "It was thought to be a disease of the Trump administration, but it seems this disease has spread to all of the US."
Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also mocked the US's China threat theory at a regular briefing the day before, saying, "The US's illness is not mild. The Group of Seven (G7) countries need to find a cure for the US."
Researcher L? Xiang of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said, "President Biden is well aware that efforts to improve Russia-US relations are ineffective, but he will do his best at the summit," and evaluated, "He wants to show President Putin that he has extended his hand, and that is his goal."
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