Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the “steadfast” relationship between China and Russia during discussions with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, as the two leaders met to reinforce their partnership just days after Donald Trump’s trip to the Chinese economic powerhouse.
Following a lavish reception for the US president last week that failed to deliver significant progress including cooperation on reopening the Strait of Hormuz attention has now shifted to whether Putin’s visit will produce concrete outcomes.
However, Putin arrives in a weakened position after years of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. Western sanctions have sharply reduced Moscow’s energy income and deepened its reliance on China, which remains the leading purchaser of Russian crude.
At the same time, the US conflict with Iran has disrupted global oil and gas shipments, creating an opening for Putin to promote Russian energy exports as a substitute source.
Experts suggest Putin may use the trip to advance negotiations on the long-delayed “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline linking Russia and China through Mongolia a land-based route that could reduce China’s dependence on Middle Eastern supplies transported by sea.
As talks began at Beijing’s grand Great Hall of the People, both leaders quickly highlighted the strength of their relationship while renewing their agreement on “friendly cooperation.”
According to Chinese state media, Xi said Beijing and Moscow had “steadily strengthened political trust and strategic cooperation” with resilience that “remains firm and unwavering.”
Russian media footage showed Putin describing ties with China as having reached an “exceptionally high point” despite unspecified “negative external influences,” avoiding direct mention of any other nation.
Xi also criticised what he described as growing “unilateral and hegemonic tendencies,” in remarks widely interpreted as aimed at the United States.
In recent months, Xi has welcomed numerous world leaders as countries seek closer ties with Beijing amid increasing uncertainty surrounding Trump’s America, while the conflict involving Iran has intensified that shift.
Relations between China and Russia have become even closer since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Putin travelling to Beijing annually as Russia faces isolation from Western nations.
Unlike Trump’s highly ceremonial visit, Putin’s trip is expected to be more understated, reflecting that “the Xi-Putin relationship does not need that kind of symbolic display,” according to Patricia Kim of the Brookings Institution in Washington.
During Putin’s previous visit to Beijing in September 2025, Xi warmly referred to him as an “old friend” a phrase he notably did not use for Trump during last week’s visit.
Kim told AFP that both Xi and Putin see their partnership as “more durable and dependable” than China’s relationship with the United States.
Although Beijing has repeatedly called for negotiations to end the Ukraine war, it has avoided criticising Russia’s military actions and continues to portray itself as neutral in the conflict.
Still, Russia’s heavy dependence on Chinese purchases to support its wartime economy means “Putin cannot afford to lose Beijing’s backing,” Asia Society’s Lyle Morris told AFP.
Middle East concerns
Despite their close ties, China and Russia may not fully align on the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.
Moscow has attempted to benefit from the resulting energy turmoil and soaring oil prices triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
After meeting Xi in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia could help “offset” China’s energy shortages as the Middle East conflict disrupts global supplies.
China, on the other hand, is eager for the crisis in the Middle East to end quickly.
During his meeting with Putin, Xi stressed that escalating violence in the region would be “unwise” and called for an immediate and “comprehensive ceasefire.”
James Char of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University told AFP that China depends heavily on open international shipping routes to sustain its economy and would rather see tensions around the Strait of Hormuz resolved sooner instead of later.