Russia vows to work with China in the Arctic, Beijing pledges AI cooperation

Russia has pledged to deepen Arctic cooperation with China, while Beijing said it was ready to work with Moscow on artificial intelligence (AI), in a continued deepening of ties days after the leaders of the two countries met in the Chinese capital.

At the Eastern Economic Forum in its eastern economic hub of Vladivostok, Russia also pledged to deepen its energy and financial infrastructure ties with China and offer a mutual visa-free travel agreement.

According to Russian news agency Tass, President Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Beijing could work together in the Arctic region, and that “the opportunity of working in the trilateral format” had already been discussed, though he did not elaborate on who the third party might be.

“A political decision is only needed for that. Nevertheless, it is possible. It will also be mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of gas, in the sphere of oil,” the Russian leader told a plenary session of the three-day forum which concluded on Saturday.

Even though China-Russia relations are at a historic high, Moscow has maintained a conservative approach when it comes to Arctic cooperation, having only launched joint scientific and military operations in recent years.

Xi Jinping hails ‘lasting friendship’ in talks with Putin

Arctic cooperation was not mentioned when Putin met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this week, according to the readouts from both sides. But during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Moscow last year, he and Putin highlighted collaboration in the Arctic, especially in shipping, shipbuilding and scientific research.

South China Morning Post