Wednesday, 20 May 202 –
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed their strategic ties and growing energy trade as they met in Beijing on Wednesday, just days after US President Donald Trump’s visit to China, with Putin and Xi overseeing the signing of more than 40 cooperation agreements covering trade, technology, and media exchanges.
In a joint statement, China and Russia warned against a global return to the “law of the jungle” and jointly criticised US President Trump’s plans for a $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defence system, while also condemning the expiry of the last US-Russia arms control treaty.
The quick succession of Trump’s and Putin’s visits to Beijing has highlighted China’s growing role as an international power broker. Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to further increase demand. Xi declared that the two nations’ ties had reached “the highest level in history,” sending a pointed signal to Washington that any assumption of driving a wedge between Moscow and Beijing remains wishful thinking.
