Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing as a stabilizing force on the global stage, in an address ahead of his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In remarks before his two-day visit to China starting Tuesday, Putin said Moscow and Beijing do not seek an alliance against any other country but aim to cooperate for 'common peace and prosperity.'
'In that spirit, Moscow and Beijing coordinate their efforts to comprehensively uphold international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter,' Putin stated. He also noted that Russia and China support cooperation through other multilateral forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.
Putin affirmed that Moscow-Beijing relations have reached an 'unprecedented level,' with both sides now supporting each other on fundamental issues such as 'defending sovereignty and territorial integrity.'
'Russia and China look to the future with confidence, actively developing cooperation in politics, the economy, defense, expanding cultural exchanges, and promoting people-to-people interaction—essentially doing everything together to deepen bilateral ties and advance global development for the benefit of both nations,' Putin said in an address broadcast by state media.
Putin’s visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries, and comes just days after President Xi Jinping wrapped up a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing.
Alexander Korolev, a senior lecturer in international relations at UNSW Australia, said Putin and Xi would use the summit to solidify their partnership at a time when both face strategic pressure.
'For Russia, the visit shows it still maintains high-level political access and economic partners despite Western pressure,' Korolev said. 'For China, it confirms that relations with Russia remain a reliable pillar of its strategic environment.'
Bilateral trade between Russia and China has more than doubled from 2020 to 2024, reaching $245 billion, according to the Mercator Institute for China Studies. Russia's exports to China are primarily oil, gas, and coal, while China supplies Russia with significant quantities of machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, and textiles.
