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Explainer | All-weather strategic partnership or friendly relationship? What to look for when China names ties with other nations
- All-weather, all-round, strategic and future-oriented are among descriptors that show up the subtle differences in China’s relationships
- Beijing often elevates ties but seldom downgrades, even amid strained bilateral conditions, as shown in the cases of the Philippines and India
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While Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China on May 16 and 17, Moscow and Beijing issued a statement about “deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era”, heralding a further boost to bilateral ties.
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And the recent headline-grabbing tour by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Europe this month was not just about official visits and state dinners. It marked a strategic deepening of China-Hungary ties to the level of “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era”.
The significant move elevates Hungary to the same rank as Belarus, Pakistan and Venezuela, which also enjoy “all-weather” relations with Beijing.
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Serbia, another European destination on Xi’s latest overseas trip, saw its “comprehensive strategic partnership” deepened and formed a “community with a shared future” with China.
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Xi welcomes ‘old friend’ Putin to Beijing, affirms strength of China-Russia bond
Xi welcomes ‘old friend’ Putin to Beijing, affirms strength of China-Russia bond
They are all designations with Beijing’s elaborate network of diplomacy relationships that describe various types of partnership.
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