Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a meeting expected to bolster economic and political ties between the two global powers.
The visit by Vladimir Putin came days after former US President Donald Trump met Xi in Beijing, intensifying the focus on the growing rivalry between China, Russia, and the West.
Since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022, China and Russia have significantly deepened their partnership. Western sanctions increased Russia’s reliance on China for trade, technology, and energy exports.
Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) data shows that trade between the two countries has more than doubled since 2020. China has become one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, while Russia is relying more on China to import machinery, electronics, and industrial goods.
Analysts say energy cooperation is still one of the biggest priorities in the relationship. The two countries are still negotiating the proposed “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline that would send Russian natural gas to China through Mongolia.
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According to reports from the international energy market, China currently imports about 20% of its crude oil from Russia. But experts say Beijing does not like to depend too much on any one supplier and still buys oil from the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere.
They are closely linked, but the relationship is economically unequal. China’s economy is much larger than Russia’s, which gives Beijing the upper hand in the partnership.
The leaders will also discuss tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and growing global competition with the United States.
China has repeatedly called for peace talks in Ukraine but has not directly condemned the Russian invasion. Western governments continue to accuse Beijing of helping Moscow to survive sanctions with increased trade and technology cooperation, a claim China denies.
Political analysts say the timing of Putin’s visit sends a strong diplomatic message to Washington after Trump’s recent meetings in Beijing.
The talks also come amid both countries’ continued pursuit of a more multipolar world order to reduce US influence in global politics and trade.
