Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing on Wednesday, using the meeting to highlight growing cooperation between the two countries while criticizing what both leaders described as growing global instability tied to U.S. influence.
The talks came less than a week after Xi hosted President Donald Trump in Beijing for a high-profile summit, underscoring China’s effort to balance relations with both Washington and Moscow.
Meeting inside the Great Hall of the People, Xi described China and Russia as a stabilizing force in a turbulent international climate.
“The international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and transformation, while unilateral hegemonic currents are running rampant,” Xi said, according to Chinese state media, in comments widely viewed as a criticism of U.S. foreign policy, CNN reported.
Xi also called for a halt to renewed fighting in the Middle East, saying “a comprehensive cessation of war brooks no delay” and warning that restarting hostilities would be “less desirable.”
China has closely watched tensions surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that carries a significant share of the world’s oil. Xi said ending the conflict quickly would help reduce disruptions to “energy supply stability,” industrial supply chains, and global trade, per The New York Times.
Putin’s visit, expected to last two days, included discussions on economic and trade cooperation as Russia seeks stronger ties with Beijing while continuing its war in Ukraine. The Russian leader traveled with energy executives and is expected to continue pressing China to support the proposed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline, which would link Siberian gas fields to China via Mongolia.
Xi said relations between the two countries had entered “a new phase of more active engagement and faster development,” the Times reported.
Putin called the relationship a major stabilizing force globally and said ties had reached an “unprecedentedly high level.” He also emphasized his personal relationship with Xi, noting the two leaders have met more than 40 times.
The two leaders signed a joint statement reaffirming their partnership and support for what they called a “multipolar world.” The statement also criticized Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative, with both countries arguing it threatened strategic stability.
“The parties believe that the US ‘Golden Dome’ project … poses a clear threat to strategic stability,” the statement said, according to the Kremlin, CNN reported.
Putin’s visit featured a ceremonial welcome similar to the one Trump received days earlier, including an honor guard, gun salute, and groups of children waving flags and flowers.
Still, the receptions reflected subtle differences. Trump was greeted at the airport by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, while Putin was welcomed by China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi.
Analysts say the timing of the meeting signals that Beijing and Moscow remain closely aligned despite China’s ongoing efforts to maintain workable relations with the United States.
Russia has grown increasingly dependent on China economically and diplomatically since launching its invasion of Ukraine four years ago. China has also become an important market for Russian energy exports and a source of dual-use technologies that can support both civilian and military needs.
At the same time, China continues to manage its own tensions with Washington over trade, technology restrictions, and Taiwan.
During Trump’s recent visit, Xi invited the U.S. President to Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound in Beijing that is rarely opened to foreign leaders. When Trump asked whether other world leaders had been hosted there, Xi replied: “Very rarely. For example, Putin has been here.”
