PRESSURE from the West is strengthening Russia’s ties with China, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing today.

Relations between the two countries are “at an unprecedented high level,” influenced by the “increased turbulence in the international arena and the pattern of sensational pressure from the collective West,” Mr Mishustin said.

China says it is neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and wants to help broker an end to the fighting. 

In February, China put forward a 12-point pathway for peace between Russia and Ukraine but the move was initially met with a lukewarm response by the Ukrainians, the United States and their allies.

But China’s special envoy has since met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other government officials during talks in Kiev this month.

The visit followed a phone call last month between the Ukrainian leader and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that Mr Zelensky described as “long and meaningful,” and which marked the first known contact between the two since the Russian invasion began.

Mr Mishustin said: “The peoples of Russia and China cherish their history, rich culture and traditions. We support the further development of our culture, exchanges and communication.” 

China today hit back at another attempt by the US and their allies to stunt their attempt to drive forward the economic development of the country.

On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang pressed his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra for access to advanced chip-making technology that has been blocked on security grounds and warned against allowing unfounded fears of Beijing to spoil relations.

The curbs imposed by the Netherlands, Washington and Japan on chip technology have added to political strains caused by a string of US-initiated technology sanctions.

Lithography machines are available only from a single Dutch company that uses ultraviolet light to etch tiny circuits on next-generation processor chips. 

Lack of that tool is holding back Chinese efforts to develop chips for smartphones, artificial intelligence and other advanced applications.

“As for the issue of lithography machines, China has serious concerns about this,” Mr Qin said at a joint news conference. 

“We should work together to jointly protect the normal trade order between us, the international trade rules and to jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable.”

Chinese ambassador to the Netherlands Tan Jian earlier threatened possible unspecified retaliation, but the ministers gave no indication they discussed that in their lengthy meeting.