By Anthony Marcus for Eurasia Business News, May 20, 2026. Article n°3001

Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday to reaffirm ties.

Xi Jinping drew attention to the fact that President Putin is visiting China for the 25th time, which indicates the high level and special nature of Sino-Russian relations. According to the Chinese leader, Moscow and Beijing will resolutely defend the authority of the UN and counter manifestations of hegemony. Both powers should continue to support each other on issues related to the core interests of the two sides and be a strategic bulwark for each other.

Russian-Chinese talks were held in Beijing in a narrow and expanded format. Following their results, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to the press. The main statement of the two leaders is in the Vedomosti article.

The countries’ ties have reached “the highest level in history,” Xi said after the signing ceremony, speaking to members of the delegations and journalists. The two sides also agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001.

What Putin said
Putin drew attention to the solid foundation for all-round development, comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China. According to him, Russian-Chinese relations, which have reached an unprecedented level, continue to develop.

“Our relations are self-sufficient, do not depend on the current world situation and serve as a model of how to build relations between countries and peoples at the present time,” the Russian leader stressed.

According to Vladimir Putin, today’s talks were held in a “traditionally warm, friendly and constructive atmosphere.” All key areas of cooperation between the two countries were thoroughly considered, and the joint statement signed following the meetings outlined priority areas of cooperation. A package of about 40 intergovernmental, interdepartmental and corporate documents was signed. Many of them, according to the President of the Russian Federation, are aimed at further deepening economic cooperation.

The Russian president stressed that in 2025, the trade turnover between Russia and China reached almost $240 billion. Its structure has been expanded, including at the expense of goods with high added value. Modern enterprises have contributed to the growth of counter trade. Now almost all Russian-Chinese export-import operations are carried out in rubles and yuan.

“In fact, we have built a stable system of mutual trade, which is protected from external influence and negative trends in global markets,” Putin said.

Russia is one of the largest exporters of oil, natural gas (including liquefied gas) and coal to China. Putin also drew attention to the successful work of Rosatom in the Chinese market: the construction of Russian-designed power units is being completed at the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the Xudapu nuclear power plant.

According to the President of the Russian Federation, the issue of mutual recognition of Russian and Chinese environmental certificates of electricity production is being worked out. As part of the visit of the Russian delegation, a corresponding memorandum was signed. In addition, it is about strengthening partnerships in the field of critical elements and metals to increase the adoption of green technologies.

Putin called humanitarian cooperation one of the most important components of Russian-Chinese friendship. According to him, the peoples of Russia and China are sincerely interested in each other’s history, art and spiritual values. Cultural, scientific and youth exchanges are intensively conducted, and counter tourist flows are growing.

What did Xi Jinping talk about?
Xi drew attention to the fact that Putin is visiting China for the 25th time, which indicates the high level and special nature of Sino-Russian relations. Both powers should continue to support each other in matters concerning the central interests of the two states and play the role of strategic bulwark for each other.

According to Xi, there is a threat of a return to the “world of the jungle” in the international arena. The President of the People’s Republic of China called the world “not calm at all.” According to him, the damage caused by unilateral actions and hegemony is “off the scale.”

“In this regard, I put forward the concept of a Community of a Shared Future for Mankind and four global initiatives that enjoy broad support from the world community, including Russia. As permanent members of the UN Council, China and Russia will <… >, as responsible world powers, defend the authority of the UN and international justice, oppose all manifestations of unilateralism and hegemony, attempts to turn back history,” Xi said.

Read also : The Private Investor Deal Evaluation Handbook

The Chinese leader also noted that Sino-Russian friendship is increasingly supported by young people. The peoples of both countries are becoming closer and understand each other better, he stressed.

Xi expressed the opinion that Russia and China should take advantage of the favorable dynamics and deepen cooperation in aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Program with the national development goals of the Russian state until 2030.

Russia and China are founding members of the BRICS. This group is now a 10-member bloc including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. The group is still centered on coordination among major emerging economies, but it has also become a forum for broader geopolitical signaling, especially on multipolarity and alternatives to Western-led institutions.

Advertisements

Our community already has nearly 245,000 readers!

Subscribe to our Telegram channel

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and Twitter

© Copyright 2026 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 3001