Xi, Putin forge powerful strategic front as China-Russia Alliance enters 'new stage'

BEIJING: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin on Wednesday pledged to elevate China-Russia ties to unprecedented heights, presenting their expanding partnership as a stabilising force against what they described as rising unilateralism and global turbulence.

During high-level talks at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xi said China and Russia must deepen comprehensive strategic coordination of “even higher quality” to drive national revitalisation and reshape global governance into a more just and multipolar order.

The Chinese president described the relationship as one forged through “unyielding tenacity” and strengthened by deep political trust, strategic coordination and expanding cooperation across trade, energy, technology and cultural exchanges.

“The international situation is fluid and turbulent, and unilateralism and hegemonism are resurging,” Xi warned, while asserting that peace, development and cooperation remained the dominant aspiration of the world’s people.

Marking the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Xi said the bilateral relationship had entered “a new stage of greater achievements and faster development”.

He called for intensified collaboration in trade, investment, energy, transportation and scientific innovation, while also urging both countries to explore frontier technologies and new growth sectors driven by advanced productive forces.

Xi further stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties through education, culture, tourism, film and sports exchanges, saying long-term friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples was the foundation of enduring bilateral relations.

On the global front, Xi urged closer coordination within multilateral forums including the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

He also underscored the need to defend the post-war international order, uphold international law and strengthen the voice of the Global South in global governance reforms.

Putin echoed Xi’s remarks, describing Russia-China ties as having reached an “unprecedented level” characterised by strong political trust, growing economic integration and expanding strategic coordination.

“Russia-China relations have withstood tests and grown stronger over time,” Putin said, calling the partnership a model of comprehensive strategic cooperation in an increasingly unstable world.

The Russian leader stressed that the bilateral treaty signed 25 years ago remained highly relevant amid current geopolitical realities and pledged to deepen cooperation in energy, logistics, science, technology and regional diplomacy.

Putin also praised China’s role on the world stage and expressed support for Beijing’s hosting of the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Following the talks, the two leaders signed and issued a joint statement aimed at further deepening strategic coordination and expanding long-term cooperation between the two powers.

They also oversaw the signing of 20 agreements spanning trade, education, science and technology, while issuing a separate joint declaration supporting a multipolar world order and a “new type of international relations”.

The summit highlighted the growing convergence between Beijing and Moscow at a time of escalating global rivalries and shifting geopolitical alliances, with both nations positioning themselves as challengers to Western dominance in international affairs.