China and Russia deepen strategic partnership at Beijing summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on May 19‑20 for a bilateral summit that produced a joint declaration calling for a multipolar world and a new type of international relations. The two leaders signed 20 agreements, including commitments on energy cooperation, with Russia increasing oil exports to China by 26% in the first four months of 2026 and discussing a second gas pipeline project.

Analysts noted that the partnership is driven by strategic necessity rather than ideological alignment. China remains Russia’s top trade partner, accounting for more than a third of Russian imports and a quarter of its exports, while Russia supplies about 5% of China’s imports. The summit underscored both countries’ intent to counter what they describe as a U.S.-dominated order, but also highlighted China’s desire to avoid over‑dependence on Russian energy.

The meeting follows a series of high‑level visits to Beijing by leaders from the West and Asia, and comes as Russia faces Western sanctions and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for President Putin. The summit’s emphasis on coordinated foreign policy and economic ties signals a continued, pragmatic alignment between the two powers.