Xi Hosts Putin to Strengthen China-Russia Partnership Amid Global Instability
Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin for a two-day visit, marking Putin’s 25th trip to China. This meeting comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit, as Beijing aims to present itself as a stable and reliable power amid ongoing global trade tensions, conflicts, and an energy crisis.
Strengthening the “All-Weather” Partnership
The upcoming summit is being framed by both nations as a testament to their “all-weather” partnership. Despite Western calls for China to exert pressure on Russia regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, both leaders emphasize their mutual support for each other’s “core interests.” Putin is actively seeking new energy agreements with China, the world’s second-largest economy, particularly in light of Western sanctions affecting Russia.
Ian Storey, a principal fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, noted that the Xi-Putin meeting will signal to the international community that the strategic partnership between China and Russia remains central to their foreign policies. He asserted that any attempts by the U.S. to create divisions between the two nations are likely to be unsuccessful.
Context of Recent Diplomatic Engagements
This visit follows Trump’s trip, which, while generating positive optics, resulted in few significant commercial agreements. Xi characterized Sino-U.S. relations as a matter of “strategic stability,” countering the “strategic competition” narrative associated with the Biden administration. By hosting foreign leaders, China aims to bolster its image as a stabilizing force globally, especially in contrast to U.S. challenges in resolving the Ukraine conflict and managing tensions with Iran.
Beijing’s Diplomatic Strategy
During state visits, Beijing seeks to reassure Western trading partners, including the U.S., about its rise as an economic and technological powerhouse. The White House has indicated that a consensus was reached during Trump’s visit, aimed at enhancing stability for global businesses and consumers.
China’s engagement with countries like Russia reinforces its message that its diplomatic efforts are consistent and not swayed by external pressures. Storey remarked that it is unrealistic to expect Xi to influence Putin regarding the Ukraine conflict, as a Russian defeat could undermine Putin’s political standing. Consequently, Beijing is likely to continue providing Moscow with diplomatic support at the United Nations, economic assistance, and dual-use technologies for military purposes.
China maintains that it has not supplied lethal weapons to either side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and asserts that it strictly regulates the export of dual-use items.
Energy Cooperation and the Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline
During Putin’s previous visit in September 2025, the two nations agreed to collaborate on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, although pricing agreements remain unresolved. Energy supply shortages linked to the conflict in Iran may bolster Russia’s case for the pipeline as a long-term gas source. However, experts suggest that China will continue its diversification strategy by exploring supply deals with both Turkmenistan and Russia.
China may negotiate a broad agreement with Russia covering annual supply volumes and terms such as flexibility and seasonality, while leaving pricing open-ended. Price negotiations could extend over several years.
In 2014, Xi announced plans for a fourth pipeline linking Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field to northwest China, but this project has yet to be finalized due to pricing disputes and logistical complexities involving Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
China remains the largest buyer of Russian oil, encompassing both pipeline and maritime shipments. Despite Western sanctions on Russian oil exports, Chinese independent refiners continue to purchase Russian oil, with transactions primarily settled in yuan. State-owned refiners have also resumed purchases following a temporary waiver of U.S. sanctions.
In 2025, Russia committed to supplying an additional 2.5 million metric tons of oil annually to China via Kazakhstan. Putin expressed optimism about the potential for significant advancements in oil and gas cooperation during the upcoming visit, stating that he would be pleased if agreements could be finalized.
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Published on 2026-05-19 09:35:00 • By the Editorial Desk
