Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming to underline the strength of Russia-China relations shortly after US President Donald Trump’s high-profile visit to China.
The visit comes days after Trump concluded his trip to Beijing, the first by a US president to China in nearly a decade, which focused on stabilising strained relations between the world’s two largest economies.
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According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen their countries’ strategic partnership and exchange views on major regional and international issues.
Russia and China have significantly deepened political, economic and diplomatic ties since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin has visited Beijing annually since then, signalling the importance both leaders place on maintaining close cooperation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a video address on Tuesday before his state visit to China, Xinhua News Agency reported. Today, Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level, Putin said, adding that Russia and China are actively expanding their… pic.twitter.com/pnHa6OH1Aj
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) May 19, 2026
Ahead of the visit, Putin and Xi exchanged congratulatory messages marking 30 years of strategic partnership between their countries.
Chinese state media quoted Xi as saying bilateral cooperation had continued to deepen and solidify, while Putin described the relationship as being at an “unprecedented level.”
The two leaders are also expected to sign a joint declaration following their talks.
Analysts say Putin’s visit is intended to demonstrate that ties with Beijing remain stable despite recent US-China diplomatic engagement.
Experts note that unlike Trump’s visit, which included significant ceremonial attention, the Putin-Xi relationship is already firmly established and does not require symbolic gestures to reassure either side.
Energy cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the discussions, as China remains a major buyer of Russian oil and gas.
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Russia has increasingly relied on Chinese energy purchases to offset Western sanctions and sustain its economy amid the prolonged Ukraine conflict.
The leaders may also discuss the evolving Middle East situation, including regional tensions linked to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Observers believe the meeting reinforces the long-term strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing, even as both countries navigate changing global alliances and rising geopolitical competition with the United States.