Beijing: Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Beijing on Wednesday for a summit addressing bilateral and global issues, culminating in a private tea between the two leaders. The visit follows US President Donald Trump’s trip to the Chinese capital, meaning comparisons of optics and outcomes are inevitable, Reuters reported.
Xi has a habit of hosting visiting leaders over tea; the setting and formality of those encounters often signal how highly he regards a guest. When Xi welcomed Putin in May 2024, the two removed their ties and spoke over tea outdoors in Zhongnanhai, the former imperial garden that houses the Communist Party and government offices. By contrast, Trump’s stroll through a secret garden and tea with Xi in the same compound — plus his tour of the Temple of Heaven last week — appeared to be more choreographed.
“Beijing is loving the optics of this. They’re loving being the centre of world attention, and they will be playing it for their domestic audience for all that it’s worth,” said Graeme Smith, a senior fellow at the Australian National University’s Pacific Affairs department.
“In some ways, Xi is benefiting from the emotional instability of both those world leaders,” he said, alluding to Trump’s fondness for grand gestures and Putin’s years of performed camaraderie with Xi.
State media in China has praised the rare back-to-back visits by leaders from two major powers that remain at odds politically, militarily and economically, calling the appearances recognition of China’s elevated global standing amid an increasingly fragmented world order.
Putin, who has called Xi a “dear friend” and been described as an “old friend” by the Chinese leader, arrived on Tuesday evening. He was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and an honour guard, with youths waving Chinese and Russian flags at the tarmac.
High Expectations For Deals
Bilateral trade is showing early signs of recovery after a slump last year. Two‑way trade rose 16.1% in value in the first four months of this year versus the same period in 2025. Still, total trade in 2025 was 1.63 trillion yuan ($240 billion), down 6.5% from a 2024 peak — the first decline in five years. Putin has acknowledged the need to reverse the slide, underlining China’s economic importance to a sanctions-hit Russia. He arrives with deputy prime ministers, ministers, heads of state corporations and senior bankers.
The Kremlin has set “serious expectations” for the visit. The programme includes talks, a signing ceremony, a state banquet and a private tea for informal discussions. Officials say about 40 documents are expected to be signed and a 47-page joint statement on deepening the partnership will be issued, and aides say a joint declaration endorsing a multipolar world and a “new type of international relations” is likely.
Energy & Strategic Ties Likely On Agenda
Negotiations on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline — designed to connect Russia to northern China — are expected to feature, industry experts said. The “no limits” China-Russia partnership has deepened since Western sanctions were imposed over the war in Ukraine. Energy supply disruptions tied to the conflict in Iran may bolster Russia’s pitch for the pipeline as a long-term source, though Beijing may continue to pursue supply diversification.
