Putin hails ‘unprecedented’ Russia-China ties in Beijing talks with Xi

Putin Visits Beijing Praising Russia-China Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, hailing relations between the two countries as having reached an “unprecedentedly high level” and calling for a more balanced international order as trade and energy ties continue to expand.yenisafak

A Signal of Strategic Alignment

Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening for a two-day visit that was closely watched because it came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his own summit with Xi on May 15. The back-to-back high-level visits underscored China’s growing role as a diplomatic fulcrum between Washington and Moscow.npr

Opening talks at the Great Hall of the People, Putin called Xi a “dear friend” and said bilateral trade had increased more than thirtyfold over the past 25 years, consistently surpassing $200 billion annually. Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35 percent in the first quarter of 2026, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Approximately 40 agreements were expected to be signed during the visit, alongside a 47-page joint statement aimed at enhancing the partnership, the Kremlin said.wxxinews

Trade, Energy, and a ‘Multipolar World’

Putin and Xi were also expected to endorse a joint declaration focused on establishing a multipolar world order and fostering a “new type of international relations,” according to Kremlin officials cited by Reuters. Discussions on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, intended to connect Russian gas fields to northern China, were also on the agenda.yahoo

“Amid the current tense international situation, our close partnership is particularly vital,” Putin said during the meeting. Xi, for his part, hailed what he called the two nations’ “unyielding” ties, according to Ahram Online.ahram

Context of Competing Summits

The visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, signed in 2001, which the two sides agreed to extend. Putin confirmed he plans to attend the 2026 APEC Summit in Shenzhen and invited Xi to visit Russia next year.wxxinews

For Beijing, hosting both Trump and Putin within a single week demonstrated the leverage China wields in a fractured geopolitical landscape. Trump’s visit produced pledges for China to purchase 200 Boeing jets and billions in U.S. agricultural products, while Putin’s brought deeper energy commitments and coordination in bodies such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.yenisafak