Moscow and Beijing have signed around 40 cooperation documents and issued two major declarations during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Putin’s official visit came just days after Xi’s summit with US President Donald Trump and coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, a landmark agreement that laid the foundation for the countries’ strategic partnership.
The Sino-Russian talks were held in a “traditionally warm, comradely and constructive atmosphere” with agreements focusing on “the further deepening of our economic cooperation,” Putin said at a press conference following the negotiations.
Xi hailed the talks as “in-depth, friendly and fruitful” and noted that relations between China and Russia have “reached a new milestone.” The Chinese president said that Beijing and Moscow should align their national development goals and cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence and technological innovation for the sake of the prosperity of both.
Here are the main highlights from the summit:
• Putin and Xi signed a joint declaration on strengthening the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, pledging to expand military, technological, trade, and economic cooperation.
• The two leaders also adopted a declaration on global multipolarity, calling for a new model of international relations based on equality, mutual respect, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
• Moscow and Beijing additionally launched a joint “Year of Education” initiative designed to deepen long-term academic and cultural ties through expanded student exchange programs.
• Putin said a significant share of the agreements focused on economic cooperation. Bilateral trade exceeded $240 billion last year and expanded by a further 20% in the first four months of 2026.
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20 May 2026
The difference in Russia-China relations and US-China relations is that Moscow and Beijing speak on an equal, stable, and respectful basis, Asia Pacific Research Centre President Sergey Sanakoev told RT’s Rick Sanchez.
By contrast, Washington does not want to negotiate from any position other than strength, he argued.
“It’s against the interests of the US. The US can only insist on hegemonism,” Sanakoev said.
Russia’s alliance with China in the field of technology will help Moscow overcome the artificial and illegal obstacles imposed on it by Western nations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the Shanghai Media Group.
“We are actively pursuing the course of ensuring… our technological sovereignty,” he said.
“Powers and peoples such as Russia and China cannot be enslaved. Yet, in the West, they continue to try to subjugate everyone to their will. We are on the right path.”
The West is increasingly alarmed by Russia and China growing closer, and the cooperation declaration signed by Putin and Xi will raise this concern, Russian International Affairs Council head Ivan Timofeev told RT.
Countries such as Russia, China, India, and Indonesia are naturally drawn to “de-risking” after Western nations “politicized” and “weaponized” international finance and global supply chains, in which they heavily predominate, Timofeev said.
“Russia is under the pressure of the US and the West in general. So it’s natural for Russia to find alternatives.”
In the declaration, Russia and China announced their intention, and also called on the international community, to follow four core tenets:
1. The principle of openness of the world to inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
2. The principle of indivisible and equal security.
3. The principle of democratization of international relations and improvement of the global governance system.
4. The diversity of world civilizations and values.
The Kremlin has released the full text of the Russia-China joint declaration on the emergence of a multipolar world and a new type of international relations, signed by Putin and Xi in Beijing.
In the document, Moscow and Beijing stated that the global international landscape is moving away from a few major powers towards a “long-term state of polycentricity.”
Both sides called for a new model of international relations based on mutual respect, equality, justice, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
They rejected dividing the world into rival blocs or opposing regions.
The declaration spoke of dangers and challenges to the global agenda of peace and development, warning of the risk of fragmentation and a return to the “law of the jungle.”
Putin has boarded the presidential plane and is en route back to Moscow.
Putin has left the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and is heading to the airport.
- Russia and China also condemned the recent US-Israeli strikes against Iran as violations of international law that threaten Middle East stability, urging a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
- The two countries pledged stronger Arctic cooperation and criticized what they described as the “militarization” of the region by the US and its allies, insisting that the Arctic should remain a zone of peace and mutually beneficial cooperation.
- The declaration also called for broader use of national currencies in trade, deeper banking cooperation, and resistance to unilateral sanctions and “discriminatory tariff practices,” while backing the WTO-centered trading system and global supply chains.
- The two countries condemned attempts by unnamed countries to impose “hegemonism” and “unilateralism” on the international order.
- They sharply criticized the US ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense project, warning it could militarize space, undermine strategic stability, and trigger an arms race in space.
The Kremlin has published the full text of the Russia-China joint declaration on comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation signed by Putin and Xi in Beijing. Key points include:
- Russia and China stressed that their partnership is “not directed against third countries,” but is based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and support for a fair multipolar world order.
- The two sides pledged to deepen military cooperation through expanded joint exercises, air patrols, and naval missions to counter “various challenges and threats” and uphold “global and regional security and stability.”
- Russia and China agreed to intensify cooperation in AI, digital technologies, and cross-border e-commerce, describing AI as a key driver of future economic growth.
Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev said he used the Beijing visit to discuss the possibility of trilateral economic projects involving Russia, the US, and China. “Only partnerships, not restrictions, can lead to global development and prosperity,” Dmitriev, who heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), wrote on X.
In a separate post, he said RDIF has already invested in more than 50 projects with Chinese partners, describing Russia-China investment cooperation as “vital for global partnership, prosperity and security.”
Dozens of children took part in the welcoming ceremony for Putin in Beijing, cheering as the Russian and Chinese leaders passed by during the official reception.
Asked whether Moscow coordinates its negotiating position with Washington with Beijing, Ushakov said Russia and China discuss each side’s relations with the US, but stressed that negotiations remain “the personal matter of each.”
Putin and US President Donald Trump could meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters during the Putin-Xi summit.
“If both leaders are in China, then they will probably cross paths and hold some kind of meeting,” he said, while stressing that no arrangements had yet been finalized.
Ushakov said no other Russia-US summit contacts are currently under discussion, though communication between the two sides – including on the Ukraine conflict – remains active. He noted that “many practical issues” continue to be resolved through ongoing contact between the two presidential administrations and confirmed that Trump aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Russia in the coming weeks.
Putin and Xi have officially launched the Russia-China ‘Year of Education’, with Xi calling it a “milestone event” rooted in the long-term development of bilateral ties. Education is “an important bridge” connecting the two peoples, he said, describing cooperation in the field as “a noble cause” that will bring prosperity to future generations.
Putin said education ties are expanding rapidly, with more than 66,000 Chinese students studying Russian. He added that interest in Chinese is also growing in Russia, with more than 100,000 Russians now studying it.
Addressing Russian and Chinese youth, Putin said the “prospects of our cooperation are limitless,” urging students to “find your vocation” and “multiply the good traditions of cooperation between Russia and China.”
“Nothing can be more important” today than Russia-China ties, Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, has told RT. He said Moscow and Beijing are jointly defending a multipolar world order against attempts by any one power to dominate global affairs, arguing “unipolarity in the world” contradicts the post-1945 international system.
Gao warned against the rise of “neo-fascism” and “neo-Japanese fascism,” arguing China and Russia have a responsibility as founding UN powers to prevent militarism and historical revisionism from resurfacing.
Gao also warned the US against escalating the Iran conflict, arguing that if Washington toppled the leadership in Tehran it could expand military influence into the Caucasus – something Russia “will not tolerate.”
Speaking at a meeting with Chinese engineer Peng Pai in Beijing, Vladimir Putin recalled that on May 20, 1972, Chinese leader Mao Zedong called for a struggle against “American imperialism,” but stressed that modern Russia-China ties are “not against anyone.”
Moscow and Beijing are “fighting only for our interests and our development,” he said, adding that Russia remains ready to work “with everyone,” including the US.
Work on contracts for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline is in its “final stage,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak has told reporters, adding that the sides are currently carrying out technical work and finalizing gas supply agreements between Russia and China.
The planned pipeline is expected to transport up to 50 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually from western Siberia to China via Mongolia, becoming one of the largest energy projects between the two countries as Moscow redirects exports away from Europe.
Putin’s Beijing visit “feels like an old friend is coming to town,” CGTN anchor Liu Xin has told RT. She said that over the past 25 years that bilateral ties between Moscow and Beijing and their respective leaders have evolved far beyond political coordination into a “much more multidimensional” relationship spanning trade, media, education, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges.
Commenting on the Russia-China joint statement, Liu said both countries were again promoting their vision of a multipolar world order, arguing developing nations were “not ready to be pushed around anymore” and wanted greater representation in global governance. She said the two nations were calling for a “more equitable, more democratic” world order, while demanding equal respect for their civilizations instead of treating Western culture as the global default and others as merely “exotic.”
Putin has reaffirmed Russia’s support for the One-China policy following talks with Xi, stating that Moscow recognizes Taiwan as an inseparable part of China and opposes Taiwanese independence “in any form.”
Beijing views the self-governed island as its sovereign territory and insists eventual reunification is inevitable, while the One-China policy officially recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China.
The issue remains a major flashpoint in US-China relations, with Washington maintaining unofficial ties and arms supplies to Taipei despite formally adhering to the policy. During his summit with Donald Trump last week, Xi warned that mishandling Taiwan could lead to “clashes and even conflicts.”
Russia-China ties have remained “steadfast” despite years of global turmoil and conflict, John Gong, a professor at Beijing’s University of International Business and Economics, has told RT. He added that the relationship was now being taken “to the next level” politically and economically through the renewal of the bilateral friendship treaty.
Commenting on the broader geopolitical picture, Gong described China, Russia, and the US as the “anchoring forces” of future global governance but argued Russia-China ties differ fundamentally from US-China relations because they are built on a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” while Washington still approaches Beijing mainly through “competition” and “strategic stability.”
On Ukraine, Gong argued Russia was “winning” on the battlefield and said China should take a “more proactive role” in mediating a settlement, adding that winding down the conflict was in everyone’s interest.
Putin’s Beijing trip marks his 25th visit to China, a milestone Xi highlighted as proof of the “high level” and “special nature” of Russia-China ties.
Social media users quickly noted the absence of the awkward tug-of-war handshake seen during Xi’s recent meeting with Trump between Xi and Putin, sharing side-by-side comparison videos online.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that Russia will extend the visa-free regime with China, saying that the “practice has proved itself positively.”
Russia values the traditionally strong interest among Chinese citizens in studying Russian, Putin has said at the opening ceremony of the Years of Russian-Chinese Cooperation in Education.
He added that the Russian language is taught at more than 200 universities and 125 schools in China, while more than 66,000 Chinese students are studying on language courses in Russia.
Russia and China have signed a joint declaration on the formation of a multipolar world, saying that attempts by “some states” to manage global affairs alone, impose their interests on the world, and limit other countries’ sovereign development have “failed.”
The two sides have warned that hegemony in world affairs is “unacceptable” and should be prohibited, adding that no state or group of states should control international affairs, decide the fate of other countries, or monopolize development opportunities.
The declaration also warns of rising “neo-colonial” trends, bloc confrontation, and the risk of the international community returning to the “law of the jungle.”
Putin has given an autograph to Peng Pai, signing the photo he took with the Chinese engineer during his visit to China in 2000.
Russia and China support settling the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and negotiations, according to a joint statement cited by media.
Moscow also “positively assesses” China’s “objective and impartial position” on Ukraine and welcomes Beijing’s desire to play a constructive role in a political and diplomatic settlement, the document says. It added that both Russia and China believe it is necessary to fully eliminate the “root causes” of the conflict.
RT interviewed Peng Pai prior to his second meeting with Putin. He recounted that after meeting the Russian leader for the first time as a child, he became curious about the country, and eventually went there to study.
Putin has shaken hands with Peng Pai, a Chinese engineer he encountered during his inaugural state visit to China in 2000.
RT’s Don Courter has shared a short clip of the Russian delegation headed by Putin, who exited the Great Hall of the People and got into an Aurus car.
China has extended the visa-free regime for Russian tourists until late 2027. Travelers can stay in the country without a visa for 30 days, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry has announced.
Putin and Xi are due to have an informal meeting and discuss topics including the Ukraine conflict and the US-Israeli war on Iran, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said.
Russia and China have reached an overall understanding on the main parameters of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, including the route, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told reporters.
He added that “some nuances” still need to be agreed upon, while declining to reveal the timeline for the project, arguing that this type of information is “commercial.” Peskov called the progress “a fairly big achievement.”
Among the documents signed by Putin and Xi is a joint statement by Russia and China on strengthening their comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, as well as the deepening of relations of good-neighborliness, friendship, and cooperation.
A visa-free regime has boosted tourism, Putin says, adding that in 2025, over 2 million Russian nationals traveled to China, and more than a million Chinese tourists came to Russia.
Russia and China continue to improve and expand logistical corridors, including the Trans Siberian and Baikal-Amur railways, as well as the Northern Sea route, Putin stated.
Russia will continue to be a reliable energy supplier for China, Putin has said.
Russia-China relations have reached an “unprecedented level” and continue to develop, Putin says, adding that the sides have signed a large package of bilateral documents, including ones aimed at improving trade relations.
The Russian president noted that trade turnover reached almost $230 billion in 2025, adding that all export and import transactions are carried out in national currencies.
The state of the world is “far from being calm,” Xi says, adding that aspirations for a global hegemony threaten to bring back “the law of the jungle.”
Despite a difficult international situation, Russia-China trade turnover has exceeded $200 billion, with the figures between January and April alone growing by 20%, Xi has said, describing it as “not an easy feat.”
Xi has touted the talks as “deep, friendly, and productive” which he said focused on a broad international agenda.
The fact that this is Putin’s 25th trip to China is testament to the “special nature” of the relations between the two countries, Xi has said.
Putin and Xi have arrived at the signing ceremony, where they were welcomed by a round of applause, according to a video shared by RT’s Don Courter.
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov has described the talks between Putin and Xi as “positive,” saying the two sides discussed “very many” issues, including a “promising energy project,” an apparent reference to the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.
Ushakov confirmed that the sides reached an agreement on energy, describing it as “something very important,” but said that Putin would himself provide more details shortly.
Ruptly has shared a short video of aides preparing a stack of documents to be signed by the Russian and Chinese leaders.
Journalists are gathering in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where Putin and Xi are set to sign a package of documents and speak to the press.
Asked to compare the welcome Xi gave US President Donald Trump to that given to Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the substance of the talks matters more than ceremonial details.
“It makes sense to compare the substance, even if it is not always easy because not everything is visible,” he told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.
“Although... for Eastern countries – and we are also partly an Eastern country – the ceremonial component is also imbued with special significance,” he added.
Relations between Russia and China prove that “great powers can get along if they have values as opposed to trying to instill their own ideologies,” Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at the Taihe Institute, has told RT.
Putin has touted the partnership between Russia and China as a “model of interstate relations in the modern world,” arguing that it is based on the principle of equal rights, mutual support, and “genuine friendliness.”
Xi has insisted that all hostilities in the Middle East must cease immediately, describing the situation in the region as a critical juncture between war and peace. He added that sustainable peace would ease the pressure on the global economy and help lower oil prices.
“I have put forward four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East to further build international consensus, and help deescalate the situation, end hostilities and promote peace,” he said, as cited by Xinhua.
Talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing have now continued in an expanded format, with members of both delegations present.
President Xi said China and Russia should work together to make the global governance system “more just and reasonable,” according to Xinhua.
“Unilateralism and hegemonism are resurging, yet peace, development and cooperation remain the aspiration of the people and the prevailing trend of our times,” he said. “As permanent members of the UN Security Council and important major countries in the world, China and Russia should take a strategic and long-term perspective, drive the development and revitalization of our respective countries through comprehensive strategic coordination of even higher quality, and work to make the global governance system more just and reasonable.”
The Russian Direct Investment Fund has expanded cooperation with Chinese partners during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing, investment envoy and RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev said.
“One agreement is in the field of satellites and, accordingly, satellite production, satellite launches, and joint work in the space industry,” Dmitriev said. “The second partnership is joint investment with the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization… There are many joint funds that have already been created there, and we will actively invest together with them.”
Dmitriev said the third agreement focuses on infrastructure cooperation with “a leading Chinese architectural company,” which he said would help implement “very complex, comprehensive Russian-Chinese infrastructure projects.”
China is Russia’s “most powerful strategic partner,” Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev told journalists at Tsinghua University in Beijing, highlighting cooperation between the two countries in infrastructure, logistics, and artificial intelligence.
“Russia has a number of very strong competitive advantages,” Dmitriev said, adding that the country “can provide the cheapest energy for artificial intelligence in the world.”
Moscow is discussing joint AI projects with Chinese partners, Dmitriev said. He also praised China’s DeepSeek model as “a smarter, more intelligent, more efficient way to think about AI,” including through open-source development.
Xi and Putin have agreed to extend the Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, Xinhua reported. The treaty, first signed 25 years ago, has been described by both sides as the foundation of their strategic relationship.
Putin said visa-free travel between Russia and China, introduced at Xi’s initiative, has given an additional boost to humanitarian contacts and will continue. He also said cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in foreign policy is one of the main stabilizing factors on the international stage, as the two countries work to defend cultural and civilizational diversity, respect for sovereign development, and a more just democratic world order.
“In the current tense international situation, our close coordination is especially in demand,” Putin said.
Putin and Xi shook hands again for journalists inside the Great Hall of the People, with no apparent awkward tug-of-war moment, unlike the Chinese leader’s recent handshake with US President Donald Trump.
Xi Jinping said Russia and China are bravely and courageously defending international justice together.
Putin invited his “dear friend” Xi to visit Russia next year and said he was ready to take part in the APEC summit in Shenzhen this autumn.
Putin said Russia remains a reliable supplier of energy resources despite the crisis in the Middle East, adding that bilateral cooperation with China continues to show “good momentum” despite unfavorable external factors. Trade between Russia and China has grown more than 30-fold over the past 25 years, Putin said during talks with Xi.
Putin, in turn, quoted a Chinese proverb: “We haven’t seen each other for a day, but it feels as if three autumns have passed.”
Xi Jinping called Putin his “dear friend” and said Russia and China are shaping the future of bilateral ties on the basis of mutual benefit and respect.
Putin and Xi have begun talks in Beijing with a narrow group of delegation members present.
Children waving Russian and Chinese flags greeted Putin and Xi as the two leaders walked to the Great Hall of the People while the orchestra performed Moscow Nights.
The Russian anthem resounded across Tiananmen Square to the sound of cannon fire as Putin and Xi stood side by side during the official welcome ceremony in Beijing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted members of each other’s delegations during the official welcome ceremony in Beijing.
Putin shook hands with Chinese officials, while Xi, with Putin by his side, greeted members of the Russian delegation. Footage from the ceremony showed broad smiles and a warm atmosphere as the two sides exchanged greetings.
Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged handshakes as the ceremony got underway.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is holding an official welcome ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
The ceremony marks the formal start of Putin’s program in the Chinese capital after he arrived the previous night for a two-day official visit at Xi’s invitation. The two leaders are expected to hold one-on-one and expanded-format talks later in the day, with the agenda set to include bilateral ties, trade, energy, security, technology, and major international issues.
Putin is accompanied in Beijing by a high-level delegation that reflects the breadth of the visit’s agenda, including senior Kremlin officials, government ministers, and the heads of major Russian companies and financial institutions.
The delegation includes First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Ministers Tatyana Golikova and Aleksandr Novak, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov, Rosneft head Igor Sechin, and Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller, along with other representatives of government bodies and major Russian businesses.
Final preparations underway at the Great Hall of the People ahead of Putin-Xi summit in Beijing, RT’s correspondent Don Courter reports from the scene.
President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a two-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Russian leader’s plane was met on the tarmac by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, along with an honor guard and a group of children waving Russian and Chinese flags.
Footage from the airport showed members of the honor guard arriving on motorcycles ahead of Putin’s plane, before the Russian president stepped onto the red carpet and was greeted by Chinese officials.
The visit is expected to focus on bilateral ties, trade, energy, security, and global affairs, with around 40 joint documents due to be signed during Putin’s stay in China.