Xi and Putin Deepen China-Russia Partnership with New Pacts
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Wednesday, signing approximately 20 bilateral agreements and declaring that relations between the two nations have reached “the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership.” The summit, held at the Great Hall of the People, comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his own state visit to China, underscoring Beijing’s emergence as a central hub for great power diplomacy.
A Summit Bookended by Superpower Visits
Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day state visit, greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the tarmac. On Wednesday morning, Xi welcomed Putin with a red carpet ceremony and military band before the two leaders held private talks and presided over a signing ceremony. The agreements spanned trade, infrastructure, media, film, scientific research, talent development, and technology cooperation, according to reports from Al Jazeera.
The timing was significant. Trump had visited Beijing just days earlier, from May 14-15, signing deals for 200 Boeing jets and $17 billion in agricultural exports. As TIME magazine noted, Xi has “consolidated this position that Great Power politics now must go through Beijing.” The back-to-back visits by the leaders of the world’s two largest nuclear powers highlight China’s unique position as the only country maintaining functional relationships with both Washington and Moscow amid escalating global tensions.
Energy at the Core
Energy security dominated the agenda. Putin promised continued uninterrupted oil and gas supplies to China, while the two sides reached a “basic understanding” on the long-stalled Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The pipeline, which would carry 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Russia’s Yamal fields through Mongolia to China, has been stalled for years over pricing disagreements. No clear timeline for construction was provided, as BBC News reported.
The pipeline represents a strategic imperative for both nations. For Russia, it is existential — Moscow needs Chinese revenue to replace lost European gas markets severed by Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. For China, the pipeline offers a hedge against maritime chokepoint vulnerability, particularly with the Strait of Hormuz blocked by the ongoing U.S.-Iran war, through which approximately 45% of China’s oil imports previously passed.
A Declaration on World Order
Beyond bilateral deals, Xi and Putin signed a joint declaration on a “multipolar world order” and a “new type of international relations.” The joint statement warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” in international affairs, according to the Kremlin, and condemned “unilateral bullying” — a clear reference to U.S. military actions in Iran and elsewhere.
Putin stated that Russia and China would pursue an “independent and sovereign” foreign policy to play a “stabilising role on the global stage,” as The Guardian reported. Xi, meanwhile, called for both countries to oppose “all unilateral bullying and actions that reverse history.”
The Asymmetric Partnership
Despite the rhetoric of equal partnership, analysts note a growing asymmetry. China’s economy is approximately eight times larger than Russia’s, and technologically far more advanced. Yuri Trutnev, Putin’s representative to Russia’s far east, candidly remarked: “We’ve only got honey and crabs, while our [Chinese] friends have drones and robots. I’ll be honest with you, I’m slightly upset.”
Bilateral trade reached $228.1 billion in 2025, with nearly all transactions conducted in rubles or renminbi rather than dollars. China has bought over $367 billion of Russian oil and gas since the start of the Ukraine war, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, making Beijing Moscow’s most crucial economic lifeline.
Xi’s Diplomatic Tightrope
Xi faces a delicate balancing act. During the summit, he called for a “comprehensive ceasefire” in the Iran war, saying further conflict was “inadvisable” — a position that directly serves Chinese interests given the Strait of Hormuz blockade. However, he notably did not call for an end to the Ukraine war, where Russia is a key ally. As WION News reported, this selective approach risks damaging China’s credibility as a neutral global mediator and could put relations with Europe at risk.
What to Watch Next
The summit reinforced that Beijing is now the indispensable venue for great power diplomacy. Looking ahead, Putin is expected to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, in November 2026, where a possible meeting with Trump has not been ruled out by Kremlin officials. Meanwhile, sources told TIME that Xi may visit North Korea as early as next week, further extending China’s diplomatic reach. For now, the Xi-Putin relationship — built on 25 visits to China and over 40 meetings — remains the bedrock of a partnership that, while not a formal military alliance, continues to reshape the global order.