Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia and China are prepared to support each other on issues linked to sovereignty and national unity, ahead of his visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Putin’s two-day visit, beginning Tuesday (19 May) , comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump travelled to China, as Beijing seeks to present itself as a stable global power amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
In a video address released before the trip, Putin described relations between Moscow and Beijing as having reached an “unprecedented level” of trust and understanding.
The Russian president said the two countries are ready “to support each other on issues affecting the core interests of the two countries, including the protection of sovereignty and national unity.”
Putin added that Russia and China continue to expand cooperation across the economy, politics and defence sectors, describing the partnership as “close” and “strategic.”
“We are not aligning against anyone, but working for the cause of peace and universal prosperity,” he said.
China and Russia have strengthened ties significantly since the start of the war in Ukraine, with Beijing maintaining close economic and diplomatic engagement with Moscow despite Western pressure and sanctions.
The summit is expected to reinforce what both governments describe as an “all-weather” partnership, while also signalling resistance to Western efforts to isolate Russia internationally.
Analysts say Beijing is using high-level diplomacy to position itself as a pillar of global stability at a time of ongoing wars, trade tensions and disruptions to energy markets.
“The Xi-Putin summit will telegraph to the world that the China-Russia strategic partnership remains the cornerstone of both countries' foreign policies,” said Ian Storey of Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
China has presented itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict and has repeatedly called for peace talks, though Western governments accuse Beijing of providing economic and diplomatic support that helps sustain Russia’s war effort.
Chinese officials insist the country has not supplied lethal weapons to either side and says it strictly controls exports of dual-use goods.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Xi and Putin will discuss “cooperation across all areas of bilateral relations” as well as regional and international issues during the visit.
Energy cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the discussions, particularly negotiations surrounding the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.
Russia and China agreed in principle last year to move forward with the project, though pricing negotiations remain unresolved.
Analysts say recent disruptions to global energy markets linked to conflict in Iran may strengthen Moscow’s argument for long-term gas agreements with Beijing.
China remains the largest buyer of Russian oil, including both pipeline deliveries and seaborne shipments. Much of the trade is increasingly conducted in Chinese yuan as Moscow seeks alternatives to Western financial systems following sanctions imposed over Ukraine.
Russia also agreed in 2025 to increase annual oil supplies to China via Kazakhstan.
“In principle, we have reached a high degree of consensus regarding the taking of a serious, indeed, very substantial, step forward in our cooperation within the oil and gas sectors,” Putin said earlier this month.
Putin’s latest trip to China, his 25th visit to the country, underscores the growing strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing as both governments seek to counter Western influence and reshape global power dynamics.
Iran says the first wave of attacks on Israel since April's ceasefire has ended, but warned of further strikes if Israel continues military action in ...
Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and food security following high-level meetings held during the St Pete...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission...
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the U.S. would bear direct responsibility for any escalation in West Asia a...
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedric...
Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and food security following high-level meetings held during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the U.S. would bear direct responsibility for any escalation in West Asia after Iran and Israel resumed strikes for the first time since the April ceasefire.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for high-level talks in Westminster focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
For about three decades after the Soviet collapse, Armenia anchored its foreign and security policy to Moscow.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for high-level talks in Westminster focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
A French Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia on Monday (8 June), triggering security alerts and renewing concerns about the impact of the war in Ukraine on NATO's eastern flank.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday (8 June) for a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, receiving a grand welcome as he described relations between the two countries as being at a "new historical starting point".
Football fans of all ages gathered in Miami Beach for a World Cup sticker trading event, exchanging duplicates and comparing Panini albums as they prepared for the tournament's opening match.
A city north of Tokyo has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools after its first-ever reported bear sighting, amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people across Japan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment