Xi and Putin meet to reaffirm China-Russia ties days after Trump's visit

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Asia Xi and Putin meet to reaffirm China-Russia ties days after Trump's visit May 20, 20261:26 AM ET By The Associated Press Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Maxim Shemetov/Pool hide caption toggle caption Maxim Shemetov/Pool BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday in a meeting meant to reaffirm ties and that takes place only days after a visit by U. President Donald Trump to China.

China: Inside a great power rivalry Key takeaways from Trump's China trip Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The two delegations later held bilateral talks, to be followed by a ceremony for signing cooperation agreements. Putin's visit comes just days after Trump's own trip to Beijing – in a sequence that is meant to cement Beijing's image as an influential superpower, experts say.

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"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. Sponsor Message Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier that there was "no connection" between Trump and Putin's visits, noting the trip by the Russian leader was agreed several days after Putin and Xi spoke via videoconference on Feb. The Russian and Chinese leaders are set to discuss energy and security as well as their overall ties.

The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported. Children holding Russian and Chinese flags walk ahead of a welcoming ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Maxim Shemetov/Pool hide caption toggle caption Maxim Shemetov/Pool China became Russia's top trading partner following 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. China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. China also has ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia's weapons industries.

Ushakov said 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. During "the crisis in the Middle East," Russia remains a reliable energy supplier and China is a "responsible consumer," Ushakov said. Sponsor Message Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached "a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.