Putin and Xi Hail 'Unprecedented' Ties, Sign Over 40 Agreements in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrapped up a two-day state visit to Beijing, during which he and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, hailed “unprecedented” bilateral ties, describing the relationship as a stabilizing force amid growing global turbulence.

The two leaders held nearly three hours of talks in the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, covering the full spectrum of cooperation – from trade and energy to international security.

Both Putin and Xi emphasized that the strategic partnership is not directed against any third country, but remains “self-sufficient” and serves as an example of how states should build ties in the modern world.

Economic ties were a major focus of the talks, with Putin saying bilateral trade exceeded $240 billion last year. He described energy as the “locomotive” of Russia-China cooperation and said that most trade transactions are now conducted in rubles and yuan. The two sides have also reached an understanding on the key parameters of the planned Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, according to the Kremlin.

The summit concluded with the signing of more than 40 intergovernmental and corporate agreements covering energy, transport, industrial cooperation, nuclear technology, education, science, artificial intelligence, and media. Moscow and Beijing also announced joint Years of Education for 2026-2027 and agreed to extend their visa-free travel regime until the end of 2027.

Among the key documents adopted were a joint declaration on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and a separate statement backing a multipolar world order based on equality, mutual respect, and international law.

Putin and Xi also addressed major international issues, saying that the root causes of the Ukraine conflict should be resolved in line with the UN Charter. They also said the US-Israeli strikes on Iran violate international law and undermine stability in the Middle East.

Moscow and Beijing pledged to oppose hegemony, unilateral pressure, and what they described as the “law of the jungle” in global affairs, arguing that no country or group of countries should dominate international affairs.

Putin confirmed plans to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen later this year and invited Xi to visit Russia in 2027.

RT captured some of the most memorable moments from the visit, from the ceremonial welcome in Beijing, featuring an honor guard, military orchestra, and children waving Russian and Chinese flags, to Putin’s meeting with Chinese engineer Peng Pai, whom the Russian president first met during his 2000 visit to China, when Peng was a child.

RT’s crew carried out its special coverage of President Putin’s high-profile visit from a fitting setting – Beijing’s Aman Summer Palace. It sits just beyond the East Gate of the Summer Palace, separated from the imperial gardens by a single wall. Originally used to host guests awaiting an audience with Empress Dowager Cixi, the venue still carries the atmosphere of the late Qing era while naturally coexisting with contemporary China.

The palace, which was built in 1750 and badly damaged in 1860 but later restored, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design and is included in UNESCO World Heritage list.

The hotel has 51 rooms and suites arranged around courtyards, drawing on the architecture of the surrounding imperial garden area, with guestrooms drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

It also boasts a 5,000-square-metre spa with multiple treatment rooms offering herbal compresses, moxibustion and other subtle methods of traditional Chinese medicine. The hotel also has a 25-metre indoor pool set like a piece of jade.