Chinese president Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin highlighted their countries’ close partnership during talks in Beijing on Wednesday, May 20th, just days after the U.S. president Donald Trump visited China.
Meeting in the Great Hall of the People, the two leaders underscored the strength of their alliance and extended their treaty of “friendly cooperation.” Xi praised the relationship as resilient and strategically important, stating that Beijing and Moscow have
continuously deepened our political mutual trust and strategic coordination with a resilience that remains unyielding.
Putin echoed this sentiment, describing bilateral relations as having reached an “unprecedentedly high level” despite the “unfavourable external factors.”
Russia, facing Western sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine, has grown increasingly dependent on China as a key buyer of its oil. At the same time, disruptions caused by the U.S. war on Iran have affected global gas and crude flows, creating an opportunity for Moscow to position itself as an alternative supplier.
Analysts suggest Putin may push forward the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline project, which would transport Russian natural gas to China through Mongolia, offering a land-based alternative to Middle Eastern energy routes.
Close collaboration between the two powers does not preclude further Sino-U.S. cooperation, and Wednesday also saw Beijing’s commerce ministry announce it will work with Washington to reduce levies on billions of dollars worth of goods, following months of conflict over tariffs.
