In an exchange of “congratulatory letters,” Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their nations’ strategic partnership. This comes ahead of Putin’s visit to Beijing this week, just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a high-stakes summit in China. The Chinese media highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries, which has reportedly deepened and solidified over time.
Putin is set to arrive in China on Tuesday evening, with a meeting scheduled with Xi Jinping the following morning, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Discussions between the two leaders are expected to cover a wide range of bilateral issues, including the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. The close scheduling of visits from leaders of both the U.S. and Russia has drawn significant attention, as it is quite rare for any country to host the heads of these two nations back-to-back within such a short timeframe in the post-Cold War era.
The growing ties between China and Russia have raised concerns in Western nations, particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Analysts and Western diplomats suggest that China’s economic and diplomatic support has been crucial in sustaining the conflict. Trade between China and Russia has reached unprecedented levels since the invasion, with China purchasing over a quarter of Russia’s exports. These include large quantities of Russian crude oil, which have provided Moscow with substantial revenue to support its military efforts in Ukraine.
China’s purchase of Russian fossil fuels has reached over $367 billion since the conflict began, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. This trade has been critical for China in ensuring its energy security, particularly in light of disruptions in the Middle East that have affected oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the issue of Ukraine and Sino-Russian relations did not prominently feature in discussions between Trump and Xi last week. Instead, their talks focused on trade, Taiwan, and the Middle East, with Trump emphasizing the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
During the talks, Xi Jinping also raised concerns about Taiwan, cautioning Trump about the potential for conflict if the situation is not managed carefully. Trump left Beijing without a decision on a significant arms deal with Taiwan, a pause that would favor Beijing’s interests. Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, speculated that Taiwan could be a key topic in the Xi-Putin meeting. Beijing might pursue additional fossil fuel agreements with Moscow to bolster its energy security in case of future conflict. Expanding the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would significantly increase oil capacity between Russia and China, is a focal point of these discussions.