President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader, Xi Jinping have opened bilateral talks as part of the Russian leader’s visit to Beijing.
Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Experts say the quick succession of Trump’s and Putin’s visits highlighted Beijing’s growing role as an international superpower.
Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.
“My dear friend. We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.”
Vladimir Putin
Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries.
Putin stressed China and Russia’s cooperation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.” “In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,” he said.
In February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a “no limits” partnership during a trip by Putin to Beijing. Beijing says that it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.
The two leaders are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements during Putin’s two-day visit. However, experts say that regardless of specific deals, the primary purpose of the visit is to reaffirm the countries’ ties as well as project Beijing’s image as an influential superpower.
Willy Lam, a senior China fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, said that Putin and Xi both need to use their close ties in order to prop up their images at home. Lam said that Putin “needs to tell his countrymen and the world that Russia has China’s support in terms of buying its oil and gas and other tangible and intangible financial support.”
Meanwhile, for Xi, having both Trump and Putin visit in such close succession is a major source of credit with the country’s top Communist leadership.
Putin Stresses Russia-China Economic Ties
In his meeting with Xi, Putin stressed their countries’ economic ties, saying that the driving force behind economic cooperation is “Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector.”
“Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources.”
Vladimir Putin
According to Chinese state media, Xi stressed the need of “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East. “An early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to energy supply stability, the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and international trade order,” Xi said.
Xi and Putin were set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. According to Chinese state media reports, the two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001.
China became Russia’s top trading partner after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.
China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. A Russian presidential aide said earlier Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.
Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached “a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.”
“Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon. If we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased.”
Vladimir Putin
Putin also praised their bilateral relationship as a crucial, balancing force in international relations. “Interaction between such nations as China and Russia undoubtedly serves as a factor of deterrence and stability,” he said.
He added that Moscow welcomes China’s dialogue with the U.S. as another stabilizing element for the global economy. “We stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China,” he said.
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