Details
- Xi welcomed Putin in Beijing with a formal ceremony before the two leaders held talks at the Great Hall of the People. The visit came less than a week after Xi hosted Trump in the same city.
- Russia and China issued a joint declaration warning that the world risked returning to a “law of the jungle” system driven by unilateral pressure and power politics.
- Xi said both countries should oppose “unilateral bullying” and deepen cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, technology and strategic communication.
- Putin described Russia-China relations as being at an “unprecedented” level and said Moscow remained a reliable energy supplier during the Middle East crisis.
- The leaders oversaw the signing of multiple agreements covering trade, technology, scientific research and strategic coordination. Chinese state media also reported an extension of the countries’ good-neighbourliness treaty.
- Energy was one of the main issues. The Kremlin said the two sides reached an important understanding, but did not confirm final approval for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was a general understanding on the pipeline, but pricing details and timelines remain unresolved after years of negotiations.
- The project has become more important for Russia after Western sanctions cut Moscow off from much of its European gas market. Russian oil supplies to China also rose sharply in early 2026, underlining Moscow’s growing reliance on Beijing.
- The summit highlighted China’s stronger position between Moscow and Washington. Analysts cited in the reporting say Russia publicly presents the relationship as equal, but sanctions and the Ukraine war have left it increasingly dependent on Chinese trade, technology and energy demand.
- Trump remained in the background of the talks. China confirmed plans to buy 200 Boeing aircraft after his visit, while the Kremlin said a possible Putin-Trump meeting at the APEC summit in China later this year had not been ruled out.
What Else
The summit lets Beijing project itself as the key power courted by both Washington and Moscow. For Putin, the bigger test is whether public warmth with Xi turns into a concrete energy breakthrough. If Power of Siberia 2 remains stuck on price and timing, the visit may underline Russia’s dependence on China more than its diplomatic strength.
