Following Trump's Visit, Putin's Beijing Trip Aims to Showcase Unshakeable Russia-China Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin departed for Beijing today, just days after US President Donald Trump concluded his own trip there, for talks with his 'old friend,' Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a move aimed at showcasing the tight and unshakeable relationship between their two countries. According to Agence France-Presse, the Kremlin confirmed Vladimir Putin's visit just hours after Trump ended his trip to China on the 15th. Trump's visit was the first by a US president in nearly a decade, aimed at stabilizing the turbulent bilateral relationship. According to a Kremlin statement, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss how to 'further strengthen' the Russia-China strategic partnership and 'exchange views on important international and regional issues.' The two countries have grown closer since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and with Moscow increasingly isolated on the world stage, Putin has since visited Beijing annually. However, the relationship is highly asymmetrical, with Moscow heavily dependent on Beijing economically. China is the primary buyer of sanctioned Russian oil. One of the topics likely to be discussed by Xi and Putin is the massive 'Power of Siberia 2' natural gas pipeline from Russia to China via Mongolia. Moscow is eager to advance this overland alternative to seaborne crude oil imports from the Middle East. To foster a friendly atmosphere, the two leaders exchanged 'congratulatory letters' on the 17th to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their strategic partnership of coordination. In a video address to the Chinese people today, Putin stated that the relationship between the two countries has reached an 'unprecedented level' and that 'Russia-China trade volume continues to grow.' The leaders are expected to sign a joint statement after their talks. Although Putin's visit may not have the same pageantry as Trump's, Patricia Kim, an expert on US-China relations at the Brookings Institution, noted that 'the relationship between Xi and Putin doesn't need that kind of choreography for reassurance.' She stated that both sides view their relationship as 'structurally more durable and more stable than the one with the United States.' Kim added, 'Xi will almost certainly brief Putin on his summit with Trump.' The lack of clear outcomes from the Xi-Trump meeting 'will likely reassure Moscow that Xi did not reach any substantive understandings with Trump that would significantly undermine Russian interests.' Joseph Webster of the Atlantic Council pointed out, 'Expanding energy ties will likely be a major focus of this meeting, as Beijing looks to import more Russian energy.' 'For Moscow, sending more of its oil east seems more attractive than ever as Ukraine continues its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.'