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Putin, Xi Hail Growing Energy Trade 05/20 06:19
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.
BEIJING (AP) -- 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 cooperation 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 for a "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.
A growing trade relationship
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 also the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow
expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. 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.
A Russian presidential aide said earlier that Russia's oil exports to China
grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest
exporters of natural gas to China.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached around $228 billion in
2025, according to Xinhua news agency.
Xi said trade in areas like energy served as "stabilizing pillars" of the
relationship and pledged to accelerate cooperation in other areas, like
artificial intelligence, the digital economy and technological innovation.
Xi and Putin show a united front on international affairs
The trip comes just days after Trump's own visit to Beijing --- in a
sequence that is meant to cement China's image as an influential superpower,
experts say.
"The message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic
partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them,"
said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of
London.
Putin also described China and Russia's cooperation 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
cooperation is particularly in demand," he 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."
In February 2022, just weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China and
Russia announced a "no limits" partnership during a trip by Putin to Beijing.
Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports
Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills.
China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech
components for Russia's weapons industries.
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.
Xi and Putin praise each other as 'friends'
Both Putin and Xi continued to praise their close personal ties.
"My dear friend," Putin said as he greeted Xi. "We are truly delighted to
see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in
the government."
Xi also addressed Putin as "my longtime friend" at the start of their talks
and said it was important to build upon "the foundation of mutual trust"
between the countries. 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."
Putin and Xi both need to use their close ties in order to prop up their
images at home, said Willy Lam, a senior China fellow at the Jamestown
Foundation.
Putin "needs to tell his countrymen and the world that Russia has China's
support in terms of buying its oil and gas and other tangible and intangible
financial support," Lam said.
Meanwhile, for Xi, having both Trump and Putin visit in such close
succession is a major source of credit with the country's top Communist
leadership.
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