Xi and Putin Forge Deeper Ties, Warn of ‘Law of the Jungle’
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a landmark summit in Beijing on May 20, extending a key friendship treaty and signing 20 cooperation documents while issuing a joint condemnation of what they described as “irresponsible” US foreign policy. The meeting, Putin’s 25th visit to China, came just days after US President Donald Trump’s own visit to Beijing, creating a notable diplomatic juxtaposition that underscored China’s strategic balancing act on the global stage.
A Milestone Meeting
The summit marked two significant anniversaries: the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. According to Xinhua News, the two leaders agreed to extend the 2001 treaty, ensuring the legal foundation of their partnership continues under the principle of “no alliance, no confrontation, no targeting of third parties.”
Putin arrived in Beijing on the evening of May 19, greeted at the airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The following day featured a full schedule: a welcome ceremony at Tiananmen Square with military honors and a 21-gun salute, small-group talks for sensitive issues, expanded negotiations with large delegations, and a signing ceremony. The talks lasted approximately three hours.
Xi greeted Putin as an “old friend,” while Putin responded with a Chinese proverb — “A day apart feels like three autumns” — underscoring the warmth of their relationship. The Russian leader brought an unusually large delegation: five deputy prime ministers, eight federal ministers, heads of federal subjects, and major enterprise executives.
20 Agreements and a Notable Gap
The leaders oversaw the signing of 20 cooperation documents spanning trade, education, science, technology, media, and other fields. They also launched the “China-Russia Education Year,” the 10th national theme year between the two countries. Bilateral trade has exceeded $200 billion for three consecutive years, with the first four months of 2026 seeing nearly 20% growth, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, a significant gap remained. Despite expectations, no agreement was reached on the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline. As The Guardian reported, pricing remains the key obstacle, suggesting China is leveraging its position as the dominant partner in energy negotiations.
A Joint Message on Global Order
In a separate joint statement on “Advocating World Multipolarity and a New Type of International Relations,” the two leaders criticized US foreign policy, warning of “a drift back to the law of the jungle.” Xi stated that “the world today is far from peaceful; unilateralism and hegemonism are deeply harmful,” in what observers described as a veiled reference to US actions.
The joint declaration specifically criticized the US “Golden Dome” missile defense system and the lapse of a nuclear arms treaty. According to AP News, Xi stressed the need for a “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East, while Putin emphasized Russia’s role as a “reliable energy supplier” amid the ongoing crisis.
The Diplomatic Balancing Act
The timing of Putin’s visit — immediately after Trump’s trip to Beijing — was deliberate. China has positioned itself as a power capable of maintaining strong ties with both the US and Russia, even as those two nations are deeply at odds. The ABC News (Australia) reported that as Xi welcomed Putin, China’s commerce ministry confirmed it would buy 200 Boeing jets — a deal alluded to during Trump’s visit but not formalized at the time.
Analysts noted that the back-to-back visits served different purposes for each leader. For Putin, the visit demonstrated that Russia retains a powerful ally despite Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. For Xi, hosting both leaders in quick succession reinforced China’s image as an indispensable global power.
What’s Next
Putin invited Xi to visit Russia next year, and both leaders are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in southern China in November. The Kremlin has not ruled out a potential meeting between Putin and Trump at that event.
The extension of the 2001 treaty ensures the legal foundation of the partnership continues, but the failure to finalize the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline deal highlights the limits of the relationship. As Russia’s dependence on China deepens amid Western sanctions, the balance of power within this strategic partnership will continue to evolve — a dynamic that will shape not only bilateral relations but the broader geopolitical landscape.