Xi, Putin Reaffirm China-Russia Alliance Following Trump’s Beijing Visit

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have reaffirmed the strong strategic alliance between China and Russia during high-level talks in Beijing, days after United States President Donald Trump visited China.

The meeting, held on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, saw both leaders extend their treaty of “friendly cooperation” while emphasising closer political and economic coordination between the two countries.

Xi described the relationship between Beijing and Moscow as “unyielding,” stating that both nations had continued to deepen political trust and strategic cooperation despite global tensions.

“China and Russia have continuously deepened our political mutual trust and strategic coordination with a resilience that remains unyielding,” Xi said during the talks.

Putin, in response, described bilateral relations as having reached an “unprecedentedly high level” despite what he called “unfavourable external factors.”

The visit comes amid increasing geopolitical shifts following Trump’s recent trip to Beijing, where discussions reportedly failed to produce major breakthroughs, including issues surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts believe Putin’s trip could strengthen Russia’s position as an alternative energy supplier to China following disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States.

Russia is also reportedly seeking progress on the proposed “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline project, designed to transport Russian natural gas to China through Mongolia.

China and Russia have strengthened ties significantly since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Beijing becoming a major buyer of Russian oil amid Western sanctions on Moscow.

While China has repeatedly called for peace talks in Ukraine, it has avoided directly condemning Russia’s military actions and continues to position itself as neutral in the conflict.

During the meeting, Xi also warned against what he described as “unilateral and hegemonic countercurrents,” in what observers viewed as an indirect criticism of the United States.

On the Middle East crisis, however, both countries appeared to show different priorities.

While Russia is believed to be benefiting from rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, China called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities.

Xi stressed that a “comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency” and warned that further escalation in the Middle East would be “inadvisable.”

Experts say China’s position is influenced by its dependence on stable global trade routes and uninterrupted energy supplies.