Putin Visits China Days After Trump, Hails 'Unprecedented' Ties With Xi

The Kremlin stated the leaders would focus on economic cooperation and key international issues. Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov emphasized there was "no connection" between Trump's visit and Putin's, noting the Russian leader's trip had been planned in advance.

Xi Jinping has previously described Putin as his "best and most intimate friend," while Putin has referred to Xi as "dear friend." Their personal rapport has been a cornerstone of deepening ties, with Xi calling the relationship "precious" during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in April.

Energy and Economic Ties

China is Russia's top trade partner and the largest buyer of its oil and gas. Ushakov revealed that Russia's oil exports to China surged by 35% in the first quarter of 2026, while Moscow remains one of Beijing's primary suppliers of natural gas.

Putin noted "a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector," adding, "Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon." Ushakov described China as a "responsible consumer" during the ongoing Middle East crisis, highlighting Russia's role as a reliable energy supplier.

Despite Western pressure, China has continued to provide high-tech components for Russia's defense industries, further cementing economic ties. Wang Zichen of the Center for China & Globalization observed, "Beijing wants stable relations with the West, continued strategic trust with Moscow, and enough diplomatic room to present itself as an unbiased major power capable of talking to all sides."

Geopolitical Balancing Act

The visit comes amid stalled talks to end the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. While Xi emphasized during Trump's visit that U.S.-China relations are the world's most important, he also stressed the need for stronger Sino-Russian collaboration to defend shared interests and Global South unity.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin's trip would allow Russia to exchange views with China on its dialogue with the U.S. Moscow welcomes Beijing's engagement with Washington as a stabilizing force. "We stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China," Putin said.

Wang Zichen noted the distinct purposes of the two visits: "The Trump visit was about stabilizing the world's most important bilateral relationship; the Putin visit is about reassuring a long-standing strategic partner." He added, "For China, these two tracks are not mutually exclusive."