Xi and Putin wrap up talks in Beijing
It has been a busy week for China, as Beijing hosted the leaders of two of the world’s largest powers one after another — the United States and Russia, reports «24KZ».
For the 25th time, Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on an official visit. In keeping with Chinese traditions of hospitality, the Russian leader was welcomed with an honor guard, a military orchestra, and children waving the flags of both countries.
Following the formal ceremony, the two leaders moved on to negotiations. A key outcome of the meeting was the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, originally signed exactly 25 years ago. Its fundamental principles remain unchanged: a complete rejection of mutual territorial claims, mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and partnership in trade, economic, scientific, technological, military, and humanitarian spheres.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
- Russian-Chinese relations have reached an unprecedented level and continue to develop. At the same time, our relations are self-sufficient, independent of the current global environment, and serve as a model for how relations between countries and peoples should be built today. I am confident that this visit and the negotiations will further strengthen Russian-Chinese friendship and contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our peoples.
Xi Jinping, President of China:
- For many years, our countries have consistently adhered to the principles of non-confrontation and non-aggression toward third parties enshrined in the treaty, as well as mutual respect, equality, good-faith fulfillment of obligations, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Our states have made an important contribution to promoting a new type of international relations, becoming a key stabilizing force amid profound global changes unseen in a century.
In total, Moscow and Beijing signed more than 40 joint documents. Among them were two major political documents — the Joint Declaration on the Formation of a Multipolar World and a New Type of International Relations, and the Joint Statement on Further Strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation Between the Two States. The remaining agreements cover a broad range of areas, from the development of transport corridors and agricultural cooperation to large-scale projects in the timber industry and media sector.
RUSSIA-CHINA TRADE TURNOVER HAS INCREASED THIRTYFOLD
Trade indicators were also discussed in detail during the talks in Beijing. In his speech, Vladimir Putin emphasized that bilateral trade turnover has increased 30 times and surpassed 200 billion dollars. Mutual settlements have now been almost entirely switched to rubles and yuan.
Nevertheless, energy remains the key driver of the partnership. Beijing is actively shifting its industry from coal to cleaner natural gas in order to reduce harmful emissions and diversify imports. The Russian leader assured that Moscow is ready to continue meeting China’s growing demand for energy resources.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
- I would like to note that Russia and China are actively cooperating in the energy sector. Our country is one of the largest exporters to China of oil, natural gas, including liquefied natural gas, and coal. We are certainly ready to continue reliably ensuring uninterrupted supplies of all these types of fuel to the rapidly growing Chinese market.
Currently, the two countries are connected by one operating gas pipeline, Power of Siberia-1, through which around 38 billion cubic meters of gas are supplied to China annually. China remains Russia’s key trading partner. Moreover, Moscow has increased raw material exports to Beijing following recent disruptions in transportation through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, despite the cooperation, there was no breakthrough on the main issue — the construction of the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline — during this summit. The new pipeline is expected to deliver up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas from Siberia to China via Mongolia. The project is important for Moscow as it would partially compensate for the loss of the European market. Although the parties signed a memorandum back in September last year, negotiations have dragged on. Beijing and Moscow have yet to agree on pricing, financing terms, and the project’s implementation timeline.
Wen-Ti Sung, political scientist and expert at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub:
- The factor of geographical inevitability plays a role here. The proximity itself and the mutual vulnerability resulting from their long shared border mean that Russia and China need to develop together. That is why, in my opinion, Beijing views Russia as a reliable long-term partner, especially in the energy sector.
The leaders concluded the official part of the talks with another important event for both countries, launching the Russia-China Years of Education for 2026–2027. According to Vladimir Putin, this is already the tenth bilateral interstate project of its kind. He noted that the number of Russians studying Chinese is growing every year and currently exceeds 100,000 people, while another 20,000 Russian citizens are studying the language at Chinese universities.
The final event of the visit was an informal tea meeting between Putin and Xi at the Great Hall of the People. Unfortunately, the topics discussed over tea remained behind closed doors.
This visit attracted considerable international attention, partly because the Russian delegation arrived in Beijing shortly after an American delegation. Earlier this week, Donald Trump visited China for the first time in a long while. However, analysts believe there is no need to search for hidden meanings in the timing. The Kremlin explained that the Russian president’s visit had been planned back in February. As for the White House, Trump had originally been expected to travel to Beijing a month earlier but adjusted his schedule due to the escalation of the Iranian conflict. Nevertheless, experts describe Beijing’s hosting of both delegations in such close succession as unprecedented.
Author: Sandugash Baiguanish