Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for talks focused on expanding economic and strategic cooperation as both nations mark the 25th anniversary of a landmark friendship treaty.
The two countries 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. Moscow and Beijing have increasingly converged around the concept of a “multipolar world” – an international order they argue should no longer be dominated by the United States and its allies. Both nations accuse Washington of misusing sanctions, military alliances, and financial systems to maintain global dominance while advocating for greater participation of emerging powers in international decision-making.
Russia and China have deepened cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, presenting them as alternatives to Western-led institutions and pillars of a more balanced global order. Russia supports the One China policy, which designates 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.
“The Taiwan question remains the most critical issue in China-U.S. relations,” Xi Jinping stated recently during a delayed visit to Beijing by former President Donald Trump, warning that mishandling the issue could trigger “clashes and conflicts” between the two powers. The trip was postponed for weeks due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Moscow has condemned the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran as “entirely unprovoked aggression,” while Beijing has denounced the war, noting that fighting in the region disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and fuels global energy and economic instability. China, the primary buyer of Iranian crude oil, has faced significant supply cuts since February strikes by the U.S. and Israel. In response, Russia has ramped up oil exports to China to offset the shortfall.
Both Moscow and Beijing have consistently called for diplomatic resolutions to conflicts through dialogue and negotiations. China has proposed several peace initiatives regarding the Ukraine conflict in recent years, urging Russia and Ukraine to resume talks and pursue lasting settlements that address root causes of the crisis. Russia describes the conflict as a NATO-backed proxy war instigated by U.S.-led expansion toward its borders and growing influence over Kyiv following the 2014 Western-backed coup. Moscow insists any durable peace agreement 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.
