MOSCOW: Recent events in Ukraine and Taiwan are putting the Russia-China relationship to the test, as neither country has commented on or supported the other's actions in different theatres of conflict.

Two time-tested allies, though ideologically diverging at the moment but firmly rooted in the same political ideology roots and having faced several crises together, supporting each other at the regional and international levels through political brinkmanship, are facing a new strain. Though each denies publicly supporting the other, no one can deny the secret deals that help cement their ties.

A new cross-border bridge between Russia and China was inaugurated on June 10 in the Far East to further boost bilateral trade between traditional Communist friends, as well as to counter rising US-led sanctions over Taiwan and Ukraine.

Yuri Trutnev, the Kremlin's representative in Russia's Far East, described the bridge as having a special symbolic meaning in today's divided world. According to Russia's Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev, the bridge will help increase bilateral annual trade between the two countries to more than one million tonnes of goods.

The bridge will bring Moscow and Beijing closer together by expanding trade, Russian officials said. Vice Premier Hu Chunhua of China also welcomed the development, saying that Beijing wants to deepen practical cooperation with Russia in all fields.

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