Russia’s alienation from the West has put China center stage at the country’s flagship annual investment forum this week, as Moscow and Beijing cement their political, economic and military ties.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is leading an entourage of more than 1,000 Chinese officials and businessmen to the official state visit at a time when Western investor sentiment has been hit by the arrest this year of Michael Calvey, a veteran American private-equity executive.
The state visit coincides with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that starts Thursday, and highlights Moscow’s hopes that it can lift investment from China as economic growth lags at home.
