BEIJING, May 19 (SANA) Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Monday for a two-day visit focused on strengthening strategic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the fields of energy, trade, defense and international security.
According to the Kremlin, Putin is scheduled to hold extensive talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on bilateral relations and key international issues, including the conflict in Ukraine, developments related to Iran and broader global security concerns.
Ahead of the visit, Putin told RT that relations between Russia and China had reached an “unprecedented level,” noting that bilateral trade continues to expand and is now conducted almost entirely in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan. He said trade between the two countries had long surpassed the $200 billion mark.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the two leaders are expected to sign a joint declaration outlining future directions for bilateral cooperation and their shared vision for a multipolar international system.
Energy cooperation is expected to dominate the discussions, particularly the proposed “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline project, which Moscow views as a major route for increasing gas exports to China after Western sanctions sharply reduced Russian energy supplies to Europe.
The Kremlin said the Russian delegation includes senior ministers, executives from major Russian companies and officials from strategic sectors. Nearly 40 agreements are expected to be signed in areas including transport, nuclear energy, industry and humanitarian cooperation.
Economic ties between the two countries have deepened significantly since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. China has become one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, while Russia has increasingly relied on Chinese industrial equipment, electronics and automobiles.
Data from China’s Ministry of Commerce showed bilateral trade reached approximately $228 billion last year, remaining above the $200 billion threshold for the third consecutive year. China also retained its position as Russia’s largest trading partner for the 16th straight year.
The visit comes days after US President Donald Trump visited China, although the Kremlin denied any direct connection between the two trips, saying the Putin-Xi meeting had been planned in advance.
Analysts say the timing nevertheless reflects intensifying global competition and parallel efforts by major powers to reshape international alliances and economic influence.
Despite expanding coordination, observers note that Moscow and Beijing continue to differ on some issues, particularly regarding tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. China favors rapid de-escalation to safeguard maritime trade routes, while Russia has benefited economically from tighter global energy markets and increased oil exports.
The two countries have also broadened cooperation in defense, artificial intelligence, technology and space programs, while expanding joint military exercises in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthening coordination within the BRICS group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The visit carries symbolic significance as well, marking the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic coordination partnership and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
R.H/R.K
