BEIJING (Agencies) – Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Beijing attempts to preserve its close partnership with Moscow while also stabilising relations with the United States following last week’s summit between Xi and US President Donald Trump.
Putin landed in Beijing late Tuesday evening and was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, an honour guard, and groups of Chinese youths waving Russian and Chinese flags during a formal reception ceremony.
The Russian president’s two-day visit comes less than a week after Trump concluded his visit to Beijing, where Washington and Beijing agreed to continue discussions aimed at improving bilateral ties and maintaining what both sides described as a “constructive relationship of strategic stability.”
According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss expanding economic cooperation, energy partnerships, and key regional and international developments. The visit also marks the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship signed in 2001, which laid the foundation for closer political and economic ties between the two countries.
Ahead of his arrival, Putin described Russia-China relations as being at “a truly unprecedented level,” saying the partnership had become an important factor in maintaining global stability.
China has become Russia’s most important trading partner since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite Western sanctions on Russia, Beijing has continued expanding trade with Moscow while maintaining that it remains neutral in the Ukraine conflict.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov rejected suggestions that Putin’s trip was linked to Trump’s recent visit, saying the meetings with Xi had been arranged months earlier following a February video conference between the two leaders.
Analysts believe Beijing is trying to carefully manage its ties with both Washington and Moscow at a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty.
Wang Zichen, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing-based Center for China & Globalization, said China’s diplomatic strategy involves maintaining stable relations with the West while preserving strategic trust with Russia.
“For China, these two tracks are not mutually exclusive,” he said, noting that Beijing wants enough diplomatic flexibility to present itself as a major power capable of engaging with all sides.
Energy cooperation is expected to remain a central focus during Putin’s visit. Ushakov said Russian oil exports to China rose by 35 percent during the first quarter of 2026, while Moscow remains one of Beijing’s largest natural gas suppliers.
Putin also indicated that both countries had made significant progress in oil and gas cooperation and expressed hope that key agreements could be finalised during the visit.
The Russian leader further praised the Moscow-Beijing partnership as a stabilising force in global affairs, saying cooperation between the two nations contributes to international balance and security.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said Moscow also welcomed improving dialogue between China and the United States, arguing that stable ties between the world’s two largest economies would benefit global markets and international stability.
