Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin sat in a bilateral conference in the Chinese capital Beijing on Wednesday (May 20). Both leaders praised the progress of Beijing-Moscow strategic relations. Reuters news.
According to the report, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Putin with a red carpet reception, guard of honor and song salute at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Wednesday morning. While praising the progress of strategic relations between the two countries, the two heads of state called for long-term cooperation and building a 'more just and rational' world system.
“The reason China-Russia relations have reached this level today is because we have been able to deepen mutual political trust and strategic cooperation,” Xi said at the start of the meeting with Putin, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.
On the other hand, Putin said that their relationship is helping to ensure global stability. He also emphasized that despite the turmoil in the Middle East, Russia remains a reliable energy supplier.
“Despite the adverse external conditions, our cooperation and economic relations continue to show good dynamics,” Putin added. At the same time, he invited Xi Jinping to visit Russia next year.
According to Reuters, the two leaders are said to be taking part in a private tea ceremony outside of formal talks. Xi Jinping is known for inviting visiting foreign leaders to tea parties. But the venue and manner of such meetings shows how much respect the Chinese leader is showing to his guest.
During Putin's visit to Beijing in May 2024, the two leaders were also seen having tea in Zhongnanhai Park in an informal setting. In contrast, US President Trump's visit last week was largely premeditated and formal.
Chinese state media have hailed the back-to-back visits to Beijing by the leaders of the two major political, military and economic rivals as a recognition of China's global standing in an increasingly fragmented world order.
China is now one of the main economic dependants for Russia, which has been plagued by Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Bilateral trade between the two countries fell 6.5 percent to 1.63 trillion yuan ($240 billion) in 2025, the first decline in five years. However, in the first four months of 2026, the trade turned around again and grew by 16.1 percent compared to the previous year.
Putin has emphasized overcoming this trade deficit. He is accompanied on this visit by a high-level delegation comprising the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, several ministers and heads of top banks and state corporations.
According to the Kremlin, a 47-page joint statement is likely to be issued and about 40 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding are likely to be signed during the visit to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
Energy experts believe that the discussion regarding the 'Power of Siberia 2' pipeline project to supply gas from Russia to North China is also likely to be on the agenda of this meeting. As the world's energy crisis worsens due to the Iran conflict, Russia can highlight its pipeline project as a long-term source of energy for China. However, analysts believe that Beijing may maintain its policy of diversifying its sources of energy imports.
