BEIJING — Chinese language chief Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed their high-level strategic ties and rising vitality commerce as they met in Beijing Wednesday solely days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China.
Putin and Xi oversaw the signing of greater than 40 cooperation agreements in areas equivalent to commerce, expertise and media exchanges. They burdened their rising commerce ties, notably in oil and pure gasoline, and declared themselves aligned on worldwide relations.
The nations’ ties have reached “the best degree in historical past,” Xi mentioned after the signing ceremony, talking to members of the delegations and journalists. The 2 sides additionally agreed to increase a friendship treaty first signed in 2001.
Putin advised these within the room that “the driving power behind financial cooperation is Russian-Chinese language collaboration within the vitality sector.”
“Amid the disaster within the Center East, Russia continues to take care of its function as a dependable provider of sources, whereas China stays a accountable client of those sources,” Putin added.
Xi burdened the necessity for a “full cessation of hostilities” within the Center East, in response to Chinese language state media.
“An early finish to the battle will assist cut back disruptions to vitality provide stability, the graceful circulate of business and provide chains, and worldwide commerce order,” Xi mentioned.
China grew to become Russia’s high buying and selling associate after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has mentioned it’s impartial within the battle whereas sustaining commerce ties with the Kremlin regardless of financial and monetary sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.
China can also be the highest buyer for Russian oil and gasoline provides, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to extend the demand. There was no seen progress, nonetheless, on the possible Energy of Siberia 2 pure gasoline pipeline that Russia has pushed to spice up exports to China.
A Russian presidential aide mentioned earlier that Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% within the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is without doubt one of the greatest exporters of pure gasoline to China.
Bilateral commerce between the 2 nations reached round $228 billion in 2025, in response to Xinhua information company.
Xi mentioned commerce in areas like vitality served as “stabilizing pillars” of the connection and pledged to speed up cooperation in different areas, like synthetic intelligence, the digital economic system and technological innovation.
The journey comes simply days after Trump’s personal go to to Beijing – in a sequence that’s meant to cement Beijing’s picture as an influential superpower, specialists say.
“The message is clearly one which China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever energy it likes, and the USA is only one of them,” mentioned Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute on the College of London.
Putin additionally described China and Russia’s cooperation in overseas coverage as “one of many key stabilizing components on the worldwide stage.”
“Within the present tense scenario on the worldwide stage, our shut cooperation is especially in demand,” he mentioned.
Xi additionally repeated criticisms of “unilateralism and hegemonism,” in what seemed to be a veiled reference to U.S. actions. He mentioned “the world faces the hazard of reverting to the regulation of the jungle.”
In February 2022, simply weeks earlier than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia introduced a “no limits” partnership throughout a visit by Putin to Beijing.
Beijing says it’s impartial within the battle, although in apply it helps Moscow by frequent state visits, rising commerce and joint navy drills. China has additionally ignored calls for from the West to cease offering high-tech parts for Russia’s weapons industries.
Putin invited Xi to go to Russia in 2027 and mentioned he would participate within the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation summit in November in southern China.
Each Putin and Xi continued to reward their shut private ties.
“My pricey good friend,” Putin mentioned as he greeted Xi. “We’re really delighted to see you. We maintain in fixed contact, each personally and thru our aides within the authorities.”
Xi additionally addressed Putin as “my longtime good friend” at the beginning of their talks and mentioned it was essential to construct upon “the inspiration of mutual belief” between the nations. The 2 leaders have praised one another profusely up to now, with Xi at one level describing Putin as his “greatest and most intimate good friend.”
Putin and Xi each want to make use of their shut ties so as to prop up their photographs at residence, mentioned Willy Lam, a senior China fellow on the Jamestown Basis.
Putin “wants to inform his countrymen and the world that Russia has China’s help when it comes to shopping for its oil and gasoline and different tangible and intangible monetary help,” Lam mentioned.
In the meantime, for Xi, having each Trump and Putin go to in such shut succession is a serious supply of credit score with the nation’s high Communist management.
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Mistreanu reported from Bangkok.
