Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin praised the strength of their bilateral ties on Wednesday, as they met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for high-level summit talks. An honour guard and gun salute welcomed Putin, while children waved Chinese and Russian flags. The two leaders also held an informal tea meeting to close the day.
The summit follows closely on the heels of a visit to Beijing last week by US President Donald Trump, with analysts worldwide comparing the optics and outcomes of both visits. “Beijing is loving the optics of this,” said Graeme Smith, a senior fellow at the Australian National University’s Pacific Affairs department. “They’re loving being the centre of world attention, and they will be playing it for their domestic audience for all that it’s worth.”
Leaders Discuss Global Order
Xi told Putin that China and Russia should focus on long-term strategy and advance a “more just and reasonable” global governance system. He credited the depth of bilateral relations to sustained political trust. “The reason China-Russia relations have reached this level is because we have been able to deepen political mutual trust and strategic cooperation,” Xi said.
Putin, meanwhile, stressed Russia’s role as a reliable energy supplier and noted that cooperation remained strong. “Even against the backdrop of unfavourable external factors, our cooperation and economic ties continue to demonstrate good dynamics,” he said. Putin also invited Xi to visit Russia next year.
Energy Deals and the Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline
Energy ties sit at the heart of this summit. Industry experts expect negotiations over the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would link Russia to northern China, to feature prominently. Additionally, ongoing energy supply disruptions tied to the conflict in Iran could strengthen Russia’s case for the pipeline. However, Beijing may still prefer to maintain its broader supply diversification strategy.
Trade figures offer further context, as the two-way trade rose 16.1% in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, signaling a recovery after bilateral trade fell 6.5% in 2025 from a record high the previous year. Putin has openly acknowledged the need to reverse that decline, reflecting China’s importance as an economic lifeline for sanctions-hit Moscow.
The Kremlin expects the delegation to sign around 40 documents and issue a 47-page joint statement on the two nations’ expanding partnership.
