Putin Heads to Beijing After Trump's Visit as Russia and China Stress Ties Remain Solid

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in a bid to reaffirm that the strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing remains robust, just days after US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Panda State. The Kremlin said Putin and Xi would discuss ways to strengthen the Russia–China strategic partnership and exchange views on major international and regional issues. The Moscow-Beijing relationship has grown closer since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with China now a key buyer of Russian oil hit by Western sanctions, making Beijing a vital economic partner for Moscow.

In a video message to the Chinese people, Putin said the relationship between the two countries had reached “a level of cooperation that has never before existed.” “The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major role and stabilises globally. Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity,” Putin said.

Ahead of the talks, the two leaders exchanged congratulatory letters to mark 30 years of the Russia–China strategic partnership. State media reported Xi said the cooperation had “continued to deepen and strengthen.” During Putin’s last visit to Beijing in September 2025, Xi welcomed him as a “long-time friend,” a term not extended to Trump during his visit last week.

Brookings Institution analyst Patricia Kim said the Xi–Putin relationship does not require grand symbolism to demonstrate political closeness. “The Xi–Putin relationship does not require performative guarantees of that kind,” she said. She added that both sides view the Russia–China relationship as structurally stronger and more stable than the China–US relationship.

In addition to discussing global geopolitics and the Ukraine war, energy issues are expected to be a major focus of the talks. Trump previously said China had agreed to buy US oil to meet its energy needs that are “insatiable.” The situation has raised concerns in Moscow about a potential reduction in China’s reliance on Russian energy.

Asia Society analyst Lyle Morris said Putin wants to ensure Beijing’s economic support remains intact. “Putin does not want to lose that support,” he said. The meeting is also expected to discuss developments in the Middle East, including the Iran war and its impact on global energy supplies. A Singapore-based observer, James Char of Nanyang Technological University, said China has an interest in maintaining global trade route stability, especially the Strait of Hormuz, to support its economy. Meanwhile, Russia is seen as benefiting economically from higher energy prices due to the Iran conflict and easing sanctions on Russian energy supplies. After talks with Xi in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov even said Russia is prepared to compensate for energy shortfalls in China if global supplies are disrupted by war. The two leaders are scheduled to sign a joint declaration after the bilateral talks.