Putin in Beijing to deepen China ties after Trump visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin during a ceremony at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, 31 August 2025.

Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, aiming to reaffirm what both sides describe as an “unshakable” partnership following recent high-profile diplomacy involving the United States.

The visit came shortly after US President Donald Trump concluded his trip to China, which marked the first visit by a US president in nearly a decade and focused on stabilising strained relations between Washington and Beijing.

According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen their strategic partnership and exchange views on key international and regional issues. The meeting is also expected to produce a joint statement.

Relations between Moscow and Beijing have deepened significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Putin visiting China regularly as Russia faces increasing diplomatic isolation in the West. However, analysts note that the partnership remains uneven, with Russia increasingly dependent on China’s economic support, particularly as a major buyer of sanctioned Russian energy exports.

Energy cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda, including discussions on long-debated infrastructure projects such as the proposed “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline, which would link Russian supplies to China through Mongolia.

In recent communications marking 30 years of bilateral strategic ties, both leaders exchanged messages highlighting what they called a growing and stable partnership. Chinese officials have also described the relationship as “enduring friendship,” while Putin has referred to Xi as a “dear friend.”

Beijing has maintained a neutral public stance on the war in Ukraine, calling for dialogue while avoiding direct criticism of Moscow. At the same time, trade between the two countries has continued to expand, particularly in energy.

Analysts say Xi is likely to brief Putin on his recent discussions with Trump, though no major breakthroughs were reported from those talks. The lack of clear outcomes is seen in Moscow as reinforcing its confidence in the durability of its ties with Beijing.

Energy exports remain a key pillar of the relationship, with China emerging as a crucial market for Russian oil and gas. Observers say both sides are likely to explore ways to further expand cooperation as global energy markets continue to shift under geopolitical pressure.

The meeting is expected to reinforce a broader message that Moscow and Beijing view their partnership as strategically stable, even amid shifting global alliances.