Xi welcomes ‘most intimate friend’ Putin to China days after Trump visit | CBC

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed their strategic ties and growing energy trade as they met in Beijing Wednesday only days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China.

Putin and Xi oversaw the signing of more than 40 co-operation agreements in areas such as trade, technology and media exchanges. They stressed their growing trade, particularly in oil and natural gas, and declared themselves aligned on international relations.

The countries’ ties have reached “the highest level in history,” Xi said after the signing ceremony, speaking to members of the delegations and journalists. The two sides also agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001.

Putin told those in the room that “the driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector.”

“Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources,” Putin added, an apparent reference to the U.S. war in Iran.

Xi stressed the need of “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East, according to Chinese state media.

“An early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to energy supply stability, the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and international trade order,” Xi said.

Xi also repeated criticisms of “unilateralism and hegemonism,” in what appeared to be a veiled reference to U.S. actions. He said “the world faces the danger of reverting to the law of the jungle.”

Both leaders said that Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence shield plans threatened strategic stability and that Washington had been irresponsible not to work on ⁠a replacement for a landmark nuclear treaty.

Trade flourishes after Ukraine invasion

China became Russia’s top trading partner after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.

China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war with Iran to increase the demand. A Russian presidential aide said earlier that Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.

Putin also stressed China and Russia’s co-operation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.”

“In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close co-operation is particularly in demand,” he said.

There was no visible progress, however, on the prospective Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline that Russia has pushed to boost exports to China.

‘Most intimate friend’

Putin invited Xi to visit Russia in 2027 and said he would take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in southern China.

Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.

“My dear friend,” Putin said. “We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.”

Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his “best and most intimate friend.” After Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the country became an ally and junior partner of the Soviet Union, then the unchallenged leader in the global Communist hierarchy.

Despite a shared ​antagonism with the West, especially the United States, relations between Moscow and Beijing deteriorated, ​leading to the Sino-Soviet split of 1961. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia and China rekindled their friendship.

Since then, the balance of power has shifted in Beijing’s favour as China has emerged as a ​global economic powerhouse and technological leader.