Putin in Beijing for talks with Xi

Russia continues to promote its so-called “no-borders” partnership with China, but new data suggests the relationship is becoming increasingly one-sided.

Low oil prices eased trade between the two last year, yet Russian exports to China have nearly doubled since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

DW investigates how China’s trade ties and financial support are helping sustain Russia’s economy.

Ahead of the talks in Beijing, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping would sign a statement on the creation of a “multipolar” world order in addition to several other documents.

In total, about 40 documents are to be signed, including bilateral agreements on industry, trade, transport and construction, said Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

The two leaders will hold informal talks “over tea,” Ushakov said, where they are expected to discuss the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine and other issues.

Beijing has repeatedly called on Western countries to abandon “Cold War mentality” and accept China’s role in an increasingly multipolar world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached China for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The Russian president landed at Beijing Capital International Airport shortly after 11:15 pm (0315 UTC).

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin hoped Chinese leader Xi Jinping would use his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to stop Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We do not expect fundamental changes in strategic relations between Russia and China at this stage,” Merz was quoted as saying by German news agency dpa.

“But we naturally connect this visit with the hope that President Xi will also urge President Putin to end this war in Ukraine, which he cannot win,” he said, pointing to the reportedly high casualty rates among Russian troops.

Isolated from the West due to the war in Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly dependent on its ties to China’s economy.

China has not condemned the Russian aggression and has called for a negotiated solution between Kiev and Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was visiting Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

The Kremlin said Putin and Xi were to discuss ways to “further strengthen” Russian-Chinese relations and “exchange views on major international and regional issues.”

In a video message Tuesday, Putin said that relations between China and Russia have reached a “truly unprecedented level” and that “trade between Russia and China is constantly growing.”

Putin said, “The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilizing role on the world stage. Without cooperating against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity.”

Russia and China have deepened their cooperation since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which isolated it from Western states.

China is the world’s largest buyer of Russian oil, which is subject to Western sanctions.

Russia also aims to establish a natural gas pipeline through Mongolia to China in a project called “Power of Siberia 2”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to China’s capital Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump visited the Chinese capital.

The Kremlin has said Putin and Xi will discuss economic cooperation between the two countries as well as “major international and regional issues.”

We’ll keep you updated on the latest news from Putin’s visit on Tuesday and Wednesday.