Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have joined forces to intensify cooperation against what they perceive as US efforts to contain their countries. In a joint declaration following their meeting in Beijing, Putin and Xi accused the US of planning to deploy missile systems worldwide that pose a direct threat to the security of Russia and China. They vowed to tighten coordination, including between their militaries, to counter what they called Washington’s “destructive and hostile course.”
The two leaders also expressed concerns about escalating nuclear tensions between rival powers, accusing the US of seeking to disrupt the strategic nuclear balance to gain a decisive military advantage. Putin’s visit to China, his first foreign trip since his recent inauguration for a fifth presidential term, underscores the importance of the relationship with Xi in the face of unprecedented sanctions from the US and its allies over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Xi emphasized China’s readiness to work with Russia as a good neighbor, friend, and partner with mutual trust, highlighting the importance of consolidating the friendship between their peoples for generations to come. Putin, in turn, described the cooperation between the two nations as a stabilizing factor in the international arena.
The leaders’ declaration of a “no-limits friendship” comes amid mounting economic and diplomatic pressures on Russia, with trade between Moscow and Beijing reaching a record $240 billion in 2023. Despite challenges, Putin seeks to ensure continued support from China in the face of US threats over trade with Russia.
During their meeting, Putin and Xi signed agreements to deepen cooperation in various areas, including energy, military exercises, AI, and space exploration. They also emphasized the use of national currencies in trade to safeguard their economic ties from external influences, particularly the dominance of the US dollar globally.
As tensions between nuclear powers continue to rise, Putin and Xi’s united front against perceived US containment efforts signals a shift in global power dynamics and the growing influence of the Russia-China partnership in shaping international relations.