Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with an honour guard and gun salute at the Great Hall of the People, as children waved Chinese and Russian flags during the formal ceremony. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi praised the 'leapfrog development' of China-Russia relations, stating 'China-Russia relations have reached this level because we have been able to deepen political mutual trust and strategic cooperation'. Putin reciprocated by describing the relationship as having 'reached a truly unprecedented level and continue to develop', adding that the two countries were actively cooperating in energy and that his nation remained a reliable energy supplier amid Middle East disruption. The Russian leader also invited Xi to visit Russia next year, signaling continued high-level diplomatic engagement.
Despite warm exchanges, the talks did not appear to signal a breakthrough in a gas deal that has been under negotiation for more than a decade. During Putin's last visit in September 2025, Russian gas giant Gazprom announced both sides had agreed to move forward with the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, a 2,600-km system expected to carry 50 billion cubic metres of gas per year to China through Mongolia from Arctic gas fields of Yamal. However, as reported by Business Standard, key issues such as gas pricing remain unresolved, and analysts expect negotiations could take years. The Kremlin said both sides reached a 'general understanding on the parameters' of the project, though no details or clear timeline were agreed. Putin noted that 'his nation remained a reliable energy supplier amid Middle East disruption' during the latest talks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an immediate end to hostilities in West Asia, describing the situation as having reached a 'critical juncture' during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People. As reported by Business Standard, Xi emphasized that renewed fighting in the Gulf and wider West Asia must be avoided and stressed that negotiations should continue. The Chinese president noted that an early end to the conflict will help ease disruptions to energy supplies, industrial and supply chains, and the international trade order. Xi described the international situation as 'fluid and turbulent' and criticized 'unilateralism and hegemonism are resurging', while emphasizing that 'peace, development and cooperation remain the aspiration of the people and the prevailing trend of our times'. The talks came days after US President Donald Trump visited China from May 14-15 and held extensive discussions on the Iran-Israel conflict, the Strait of Hormuz and bilateral trade frictions.
Both leaders witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents and about 20 more were expected to be signed, according to the Kremlin. As reported by Business Standard, Xi said cooperation in energy and resource connectivity should be the 'ballast stone' in China-Russia relations, though he did not mention the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline specifically during Wednesday's talks. The meeting is being closely watched as both China and Russia are key strategic partners of Iran with close economic and military ties to Tehran and could influence its tough stand on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has triggered a major global energy crisis. China imports nearly 90% of Iranian oil despite US sanctions, while both Moscow and Beijing maintain close strategic ties with Tehran. Putin also stressed that the Russia-China strategic partnership played a 'major stabilising role' globally and said both countries would continue coordination through multilateral forums such as the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS.
Calling for closer China-Russia coordination, Xi said the two countries should work together to make the global governance system 'more just and reasonable'. According to Business Standard, the **joint declaration warned of the 'danger of fragmentation of the international community and a drift back toward the ''law of the jungle''****. The diplomatic engagement comes amid heightened global economic uncertainty, with the IMF's April 2026 Global Financial Stability Report warning that global financial stability risks are elevated. The Kremlin has set 'serious expectations' for Putin's visit, which also includes a banquet followed by a tea where the two leaders will discuss key international issues in an informal setting. As Xi and Putin began their meeting, China's commerce ministry confirmed a purchase of 200 Boeing jets that was announced by Washington following the Trump-Xi summit, signalling China's desire to stabilise economic and trade ties with the US independent of its commitments with Russia.
