Putin’s Visit to Beijing: Strengthening Russia-China Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for discussions with Xi Jinping, underscoring that their “unrestricted partnership” remains strong following Donald Trump’s recent visit to the city.

Upon his arrival, Putin received a reception similar to Trump’s, with enthusiastic student cheerleaders waving flags and welcoming him with chants.

This parallel in receptions served to enhance China’s image as a prominent destination for global leaders.

William Yang, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, pointed out that Xi likely aims to remind Trump that China has other reliable allies. Even if the U.S. attempts to isolate China, it won’t be easy to do so.

According to Ian Storey from the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, the Xi-Putin summit signals that the strategic partnership between them is fundamental to their foreign policies, and any U.S. efforts to create divisions will probably not succeed.

Storey speculated that Xi might take this chance to encourage Putin to consider ending the war in Ukraine. However, this seems optimistic, as it’s unrealistic to think that Xi could pressure Putin to cease fighting. After all, China is aware that a Russian defeat could undermine Putin’s position.

As a result, it seems likely that China will continue to offer Russia diplomatic cover at the United Nations, along with economic support and military technology.

In a pre-visit video message, Putin highlighted that the relationship between Russia and China has reached “unprecedented levels,” largely driven by strong trade ties—trade that is often conducted using their own currencies rather than the U.S. dollar. This includes China’s purchase of Russian oil, which goes against U.S. and European sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Putin expressed confidence that their warm relations would enable them to realize ambitious plans for the future.

Both Russian and Chinese media emphasized the close bond between Putin and Xi, likely aimed at reducing Trump’s influence on the international stage. Reports indicated that Xi has referred to Putin as a personal “friend” multiple times during his visits, with Putin having traveled to China at least 25 times and meeting Xi over 40 times during his tenure.

Before Putin’s arrival, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China-Russia relations play a significant role in upholding global strategic stability and fairness. He expressed optimism that the visit would deepen their bilateral ties and contribute to global stability.

When asked whether Xi and Putin would discuss Trump’s recent trip, Guo appeared a bit hesitant but stated that the two leaders would focus on their bilateral relations, cooperation across various sectors, and mutual international interests.

Upon arriving, Putin indicated his intention to sign a joint commitment with Xi aimed at establishing a new “multipolar world order.” Besides informal discussions “over tea,” the Kremlin anticipates that around 40 documents will be signed during Putin’s time in Beijing.