Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint condemnation of what they termed “irresponsible” US foreign policy during a summit in Beijing on Wednesday. The leaders warned of “a drift back to the law of the jungle” in global affairs, criticising US actions such as the development of a “golden dome” missile defence system and the lapse of a nuclear arms treaty.
The summit showcased the close ties between the two leaders, who have met more than 40 times. Xi described the bilateral relationship as “without limits”, while Putin hailed it as being at an “unprecedentedly high level”. The warm exchanges contrasted with Xi’s earlier meetings with US President Donald Trump, and observers noted that the summit underscored Xi’s status on the global stage.
In their joint statement, Xi and Putin expressed interest in further cooperation across areas including artificial intelligence and wildlife protection. However, they failed to finalise an agreement on a pipeline that would double Russian fossil gas exports to China, with pricing believed to be the main obstacle. A signing ceremony for numerous documents on technology, trade, and scientific research did take place, including an extension of a 25-year-old bilateral treaty.
Putin’s visit followed similar protocol to Trump’s, with a military band playing national anthems and children waving flags. The talks included a narrow-format meeting for sensitive issues and a wider session. Xi is scheduled to host Putin for tea at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, mirroring a previous informal meeting in May 2024.
