Putin tells Xi that China-Russia relations have reached an 'unprecedented height'

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Tuesday that Moscow and Beijing’s partnership had reached an “unprecedented level” as the two leaders met in Beijing on the eve of a massive military parade.

World leaders, including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, have gathered in the Chinese capital for Wednesday’s event, a major display of Beijing’s power marking 80 years since the end of World War II.

“Our close communication underscores the strategic character of Russia-China relations, which are now at an unprecedented height,” Putin said in remarks broadcast live. Referring to the wartime alliance, he added, “We stood together then, and we stand together now.”

Xi, who is engaged in a series of diplomatic meetings this week — including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, which Beijing promotes as an alternative to Western-led forums — echoed the sentiment. “China-Russia relations have stood the test of global shifts,” he told Putin, pledging to work with Moscow to build a “fairer and more rational global governance system.”

On Monday, both leaders criticised Western governments at the SCO summit. Xi condemned “bullying behaviour” by certain states, a veiled swipe at the United States, while Putin defended Russia’s war in Ukraine, insisting the West provoked the conflict.

Moscow and Beijing announced a “no limits partnership” just before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, their military and economic ties have deepened, drawing alarm in the West.

China has avoided condemning Russia’s actions or demanding a troop withdrawal, maintaining it is a neutral party while calling for peace talks. At the same time, Western governments accuse Beijing of indirectly supporting Moscow and prolonging the war by blaming them for arming Ukraine.

Xi and Putin remain in frequent contact, including a phone call last month and Xi’s visit to Moscow in May for Russia’s World War II commemorations. During that trip, Xi said China and Russia had strengthened mutual trust and injected “stability and positive energy” into a turbulent international order.

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