Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The visit comes just days after Donald Trump completed his trip to China, which marked the first visit by a US president to the country in nearly a decade.
According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi will discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Russia and China.
In addition, the two leaders will exchange views on major international and regional issues.
Russia-China Ties Continue to Deepen
Relations between Moscow and Beijing have grown stronger since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Since then, Putin has visited China every year.
Moreover, both leaders exchanged congratulatory letters on Sunday to mark 30 years of strategic partnership between their countries.
Chinese state media quoted Xi Jinping as saying cooperation between China and Russia has continued to deepen and strengthen.
Meanwhile, Putin described bilateral ties as reaching “a truly unprecedented level” in a video message released before the visit.
He also highlighted the growth in trade between the two countries.
Putin and Xi Expected to Sign Joint Declaration
The two leaders are expected to sign a joint declaration after their talks.
During Putin’s previous visit to Beijing in September 2025, Xi welcomed him as an “old friend.”
Analysts believe Putin wants to demonstrate that Russia-China relations remain strong despite recent US-China diplomatic engagement.
According to Patricia Kim of the Brookings Institution, both countries consider their partnership more stable and structurally stronger than China-US relations.
Ukraine War and Energy Cooperation on Agenda
Although China has called for peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, Beijing has avoided condemning Russia for the conflict.
Last week, Trump and Xi also discussed the Ukraine war during their meeting in China.
However, the talks did not produce a major breakthrough.
Analysts expect Xi Jinping to brief Putin on his discussions with Trump.
Energy Supplies Remain Key Focus
Energy cooperation is likely to remain a major focus of the Beijing talks.
During his China visit, Donald Trump claimed Beijing had agreed to buy more US oil to meet growing energy demand.
However, Russia remains heavily dependent on energy exports to China.
Experts believe Putin wants to secure continued Chinese support for Russian oil and energy supplies.
Analysts also expect both sides to discuss tensions in the Middle East and the impact of global conflicts on energy markets.
According to experts, China wants stability in key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, to protect its economic interests.
Meanwhile, Russia has benefited from higher energy demand and changing global supply patterns during recent regional conflicts.
The meeting highlights the growing strategic coordination between Moscow and Beijing as both countries navigate rising geopolitical and economic tensions worldwide.
