Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with Vladimir Putin to “rejuvenate” their countries as they began talks in Beijing. According to Chinese state media, he stated that China would “always be a good partner” of Russia.
Putin arrived on Thursday for a two-day state visit. They will discuss Ukraine, Asia, energy, and trade. Xi, his most powerful political backer and fellow geopolitical rival of the United States, will lead the talks.
“The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned and must be cherished,” Xi told Putin at their opening session in the Great Hall of the People.
China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022. This occurred when Putin visited Beijing days before invading Ukraine, triggering Europe’s deadliest land war since World War II.
Since starting a six-year term, Putin chose China for his first foreign trip, extending his rule until at least 2030. This choice highlights his priorities and strong ties with Xi.
Putin told Xi that their cooperation is stabilizing. “Relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic,” he said, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.
In a pre-visit interview with China’s Xinhua news agency, Putin praised Xi for building a “strategic partnership” based on mutual trust. “The high level of our partnership determined my choice of China as my first state visit,” Putin said.
He plans to enhance cooperation in technology, space, nuclear energy, AI, renewable energy, and other sectors.
The leaders and officials will have informal discussions over tea and dinner on Thursday. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks will cover Ukraine, Asia, energy, and trade.
Russian officials attending include Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. It is unclear if Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller will attend, as he was visiting Iran on Wednesday.
Putin and Xi will celebrate 75 years since the Soviet Union recognized the People’s Republic of China, established by Mao Zedong in 1949.
Xinhua confirmed Putin’s arrival and the scheduled talks with Xi. Tiananmen Square displayed Russian and Chinese flags with heavy police patrols.
The event is trending on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, with 1.4 million search requests. Commentaries praise their “great power diplomacy.”
The U.S. views China as its biggest competitor and Russia as its largest nation-state threat. President Biden says a contest between democracies and autocracies defines this century.
Putin and Xi see the West as decadent and declining. China challenges U.S. supremacy in quantum computing, synthetic biology, espionage, and military power.
Putin will also visit Harbin, a city with historic ties to Russia. According to China Daily, a mall for Russian-made goods opened Thursday.
China has recently strengthened trade and military ties with Russia. The U.S. and its allies imposed sanctions on both countries, particularly Moscow, for its invasion of Ukraine.
Western governments claim China helps Russia withstand sanctions by supplying battlefield technology. China, once Moscow’s junior partner, is now Russia’s most powerful global ally. Putin’s visit follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s mission to Beijing. Blinken warned China against deepening military support for Russia.
