1 / 8Xi and Putin projected unity against Western pressure | Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing with a ceremonial reception, honour guard and gun salute at the Great Hall of the People, just days after hosting US President Donald Trump in the Chinese capital. During the talks, both leaders praised the strength of the China-Russia partnership and highlighted growing strategic cooperation between their countries. The visit comes at a time when both Beijing and Moscow are facing increasing tensions with the United States and its allies. (Image: Reuters)
2 / 8China and Russia criticised US defence policies | One of the strongest messages from the meeting was directed at Washington. In a joint declaration, China and Russia criticised attempts by some countries to dominate global affairs and warned against a return to what they called the “law of the jungle”. The two sides also criticised Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence project, saying it could threaten global strategic stability. Both countries additionally raised concerns about the future of global nuclear arms agreements and accused the United States of not doing enough to maintain strategic balance. (Image: AP)
3 / 8More than 20 cooperation agreements were signed | Following the talks, the two countries signed a lengthy joint statement along with more than 20 cooperation documents. The agreements covered areas including nuclear energy, media cooperation, trade standards, sanitary regulations, and strategic coordination. The broad range of agreements shows that cooperation between China and Russia is expanding beyond energy and trade into multiple sectors. (Image: AP)
4 / 8No major breakthrough yet on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline | Energy remained a key topic during the meeting, especially the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. The project would transport Russian gas to China through Mongolia and help Moscow replace energy markets lost in Europe after the Ukraine war. While the Kremlin said a general understanding had been reached, both countries have still not announced a final agreement or timeline for the project. China is reportedly seeking lower prices and favourable terms, while Russia is eager to secure a long-term export market for its gas. (Image: AP)
5 / 8Russia is seeking deeper Chinese technology support | The talks also highlighted Russia’s growing reliance on Chinese technology as Western sanctions continue to limit Moscow’s access to advanced hardware. Russian banking giant Sberbank said it hopes to power its GigaChat artificial intelligence model using Chinese-made chips. The development reflects how China is increasingly becoming a key technology partner for Russia in areas ranging from electronics to AI infrastructure. (Image: AP)
6 / 8Russia’s economic dependence on China is growing | The meeting also underlined how important China has become for Russia’s economy since the Ukraine war began in 2022. Trade between the two countries has surged to around $228 billion to $240 billion annually. Russia now relies heavily on China for machinery, electronics and industrial goods, while China remains a major buyer of Russian oil, gas and coal. According to reports, China supplied around 90% of Russia’s critical technology imports in 2025, up from roughly 80% a year earlier. Both countries have also sharply reduced their reliance on the US dollar, with Russian officials saying more than 99% of bilateral trade is now settled in rubles and yuan. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 8Putin’s visit came just days after Trump’s Beijing trip | The timing of Putin’s visit has added to the geopolitical significance of the meeting. Trump recently visited Beijing but left without major breakthroughs on trade or key global conflicts. In contrast, the Xi-Putin talks produced multiple agreements and extensive joint statements, highlighting the depth of cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. The back-to-back visits have reinforced China’s position as a major global power engaging with rival world leaders. (Image: AP)
8 / 8Why the world is closely watching the Xi-Putin talks | The meeting is about far more than symbolic diplomacy. For Russia, China has become an economic and strategic lifeline during the Ukraine war by buying energy exports and helping offset the impact of Western sanctions. For China, Russia offers stable energy supplies, military cooperation and support at a time of growing rivalry with the United States. For Washington and its allies, the strengthening China-Russia partnership is increasingly being viewed as a challenge to the Western-led global order that has shaped international politics for decades. (Image: Reuters)
