Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that both Russia and China share a united stance against what he described as “discriminatory” sanctions in global trade, which, according to him, obstruct global economic development and progress. He highlighted that Moscow and Beijing are determined to work together to strengthen cooperation, reduce barriers, and expand their economic partnership, particularly at a time when the West continues to impose restrictions over the Ukraine conflict.
In a written interview with China’s state-owned Xinhua news agency released on Saturday, Putin reiterated that Russia and China will actively promote deeper collaboration in trade, industry, and overall economic relations. He stressed that the two nations view discriminatory trade policies as harmful to the broader socio-economic growth of the world and, therefore, remain committed to countering such challenges.
The Kremlin has characterized Putin’s upcoming trip as an “unprecedented” visit, underlining how significant ties with Beijing have become for Moscow. His journey will begin in Tianjin, where he will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, before traveling to Beijing for high-level talks with President Xi Jinping and attending a large military parade commemorating Japan’s surrender in World War II.
Speaking about the agenda of his four-day visit, Putin stated that discussions with Xi would include identifying fresh opportunities for cooperation and exploring new initiatives to enhance mutually beneficial relations that would directly contribute to the welfare of both Russian and Chinese citizens. This visit will be his first to China since May of the previous year and comes at a time when Russia is trying to boost trade volumes that have slightly slowed in recent months, despite his earlier summit in Alaska with US President Donald Trump, as reported by Reuters.
China has increasingly become Russia’s primary economic lifeline following the sharp breakdown of relations between Moscow and Western nations after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has purchased record amounts of Russian oil while supplying essential goods such as automobiles, electronic products, and industrial equipment. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached an impressive $245 billion in 2024.
The close relationship between the two nations was further cemented in early 2022 when Putin and Xi jointly declared a “no limits” strategic partnership. Over the past decade, the two leaders have met more than 40 times, consistently presenting their cooperation as a strong counterbalance to the global influence and dominance of the United States.
