Russian President, Vladimir Putin has hailed his country’s relationship with Beijing.
This came as Putin and Chinese leader, Xi Jinping sat down on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, for their first formal talks since the Russian leader arrived in China on Sunday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
The meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing was the latest show of solidarity between the two leaders as Putin shrugs off Western pressure to end its war on Ukraine, and Xi casts his country as a new leader of world governance, at a time when Trump’s foreign policy is upending the globe.
Citing Soviet ties with China during the World War II, Putin hailed “the memory of the brotherhood in arms, trust, mutual support, and firmness in defending common interests” as the foundation of their countries’ strategic alignment “in the new era.”
Putin told Xi at the start of their bilateral sit-down, “We were always together then, and we remain together now.”
China-Russia relations have “withstood the test of shifting international circumstances,” Xi said, calling Putin an “old friend.”
“China is willing to work together with Russia to support each other’s development and revitalization, firmly uphold international fairness and justice, and build a just and reasonable global governance system.”
Xi Jinping
Prior to their meeting, both leaders met with Mongolia’s President.
After their formal meeting, Xi invited Putin to his residence in Zhongnanhai, the Communist Party’s walled leadership compound in central Beijing, to continue discussions, according to Russian state media. China’s state broadcaster said that Xi and Putin had tea with a small group of aides around noon.
The close rapport between Xi and Putin was also on show throughout a two-day security summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin that concluded Monday. During a banquet dinner Sunday evening, Xi warmly greeted Putin and was seen gesturing expressively in conversation with the Russian leader.
Putin previously said that he discussed his recent negotiations in Alaska with Trump with Xi during summit activities Sunday. Putin met Trump last month in Alaska as the US pushes for Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
Agreement Reportedly Signed Between Russia, China To Construct Gas Pipeline
On Tuesday afternoon, Russia’s state-owned energy company, Gazprom announced that a legally binding agreement had been signed for the construction the massive Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which Moscow has been trying to push off the drawing board for years.
The deal is a major win for Putin, who has increasingly turned to China to replace Europe as its major gas buyer. It’s also a collective show of defiance against US President Donald Trump, who is pushing countries to cut Russian energy imports as part of his attempt to end the war in Ukraine.
The new pipeline will supply 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually from western Russia to northern China. Analysts have previously said that it could offset nearly half of the gas exports to Europe that Russia has lost since the Ukraine war began.
Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller said that the deal includes a 30 year supply agreement and the price of supplies will be lower than Europe is charged. “It will be the largest, most extensive, and most capital-intensive gas project in the world,” Miller added.
China, though, has not yet confirmed the agreement.
Beijing has long been seen as cautious about the mega-project, given its push for renewable energy transition and longstanding energy security concerns about being too reliant on a single supplier.
Asked about the deal at a regular news conference Tuesday, a Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said China and Russia have “consistently conducted practical cooperation in various fields, including energy,” and asked reporters to “contact the relevant Chinese authorities for details.”
READ ALSO: Belgium Joins Wave Of Recognition For Palestinian Statehood
