Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged congratulatory messages prior to Putin’s arrival in Beijing this week, marking a significant diplomatic engagement. This visit comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s high-profile summit in China. Xi highlighted the deepening cooperation between China and Russia, noting the 30th anniversary of their strategic partnership. Putin is set to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday evening and hold discussions with Xi the following morning, with bilateral relations and the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline on the agenda, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
The close scheduling of visits from both U.S. and Russian leaders to China has drawn considerable attention, as it is rare for such back-to-back visits from these nations in the post-Cold War era. This development underscores the growing ties between China and Russia, which have raised concerns in the West, especially since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Western diplomats and analysts suggest that China’s economic and diplomatic backing has been instrumental in sustaining the conflict. The frequent meetings between Xi and Putin, surpassing 40 occasions, highlight the depth of their relationship compared to Xi’s interactions with Western leaders.
Trade between China and Russia has reached unprecedented levels since 2022, with China purchasing over a quarter of Russia’s exports. China’s significant acquisition of Russian crude oil has provided Moscow with substantial revenue, aiding its war efforts in Ukraine. Since the conflict began, China has bought more than $367 billion in Russian fossil fuels, as reported by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. These purchases have bolstered China’s energy security, especially vital in light of recent disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz due to Middle Eastern tensions.
While Trump’s discussions with Xi did not heavily focus on the Ukraine conflict or Sino-Russian relations, the talks centered on trade, Taiwan, and Middle Eastern issues. Trump mentioned that China acknowledged the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Xi emphasized caution over Taiwan, warning of potential conflict if mishandled. Trump departed Beijing without deciding on a significant arms deal to Taiwan, a decision that would be a significant triumph for Beijing, which aims to bring the self-governing island under its control, despite opposition from most Taiwanese.
Analysts, such as Joseph Webster from the Atlantic Council, speculate that Taiwan could be an underlying topic in the Xi-Putin discussions. Beijing might aim to secure additional fossil fuel agreements with Moscow to ensure energy supplies in the event of future conflicts. Expanding Russia’s oil pipeline capacity to China could significantly enhance Beijing’s energy security concerning Taiwan. Russia is urging China to advance the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, which would increase the gas flow capacity between the two nations by 50 billion cubic meters.