Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reinforced their strategic partnership during a high-profile meeting in Beijing, signaling a deeper alignment against Western policies. The summit, held as Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un also joined, marks a critical moment for international diplomacy. The gathering follows Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine and underscores a growing coalition of nations countering U.S. and European actions.
The meeting, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, highlights the evolving dynamics in global geopolitics. Both leaders emphasized their ‘unprecedentedly high’ ties, which have been bolstered by shared interests against Western sanctions and policies. Russia and China have been working to counter the impact of U.S. and European sanctions, while also supporting regional alliances like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.
Critics, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have dismissed the summit as performative, accusing China and India of continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas despite international pressure. However, a new natural gas agreement between Putin and Xi suggests that China remains committed to its economic ties with Russia, even amid potential trade disputes with the U.S.