Crystal Charles
Chinese President Xi Jinping warmly welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing on Tuesday, hailing him as an “old friend” as the two leaders opened a fresh round of high-level talks that underscore the deepening alignment between the two powers.
The meeting marks another chapter in the strengthening partnership between China and Russia, which has accelerated since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Putin praised the relationship as “strategic” and “at an unprecedentedly high level,” while Xi framed their cooperation as a stabilizing force in a turbulent world order.
“China and Russia have remained true to their original aspirations and stayed the course,” Xi declared. “We support each other’s national development and advocate for a more just global order.”
Despite sweeping Western sanctions, Beijing has remained a vital economic lifeline for Moscow, sustaining trade flows that have softened the blow to Russia’s economy. Yet the partnership is not without controversy: China faces growing scrutiny over allegations that some of its companies may be indirectly aiding Russia’s defense sector.
For Xi, the talks also serve as a platform to contrast China’s steady growth and stability with the trade disruptions triggered by U.S. tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump.
The high-profile meeting comes on the eve of a major military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. China is expected to showcase cutting-edge weapons and homegrown defense technology—underscoring both its historical legacy and its rising global ambitions.