M10News, Beijing – Vladimir Putin has arrived in China for a rare four-day state visit – his longest trip abroad in two decades – in a move widely seen as a show of defiance against Western sanctions and pressure over the war in Ukraine.
The Russian president, who last made such an extended overseas visit in 2005 for a United Nations summit in New York, is using the trip to underline Moscow’s increasingly close ties with Beijing.
A Carefully Timed Visit
The visit comes less than two weeks after Putin met Donald Trump in Alaska. Analysts say the timing is deliberate, sending a message that Russia and China remain aligned despite U.S. efforts to weaken the partnership.
Washington has threatened tariffs and secondary sanctions on Chinese firms buying Russian oil. At the same time, it has held out the possibility of energy deals with Moscow if the Kremlin shows signs of breaking with Beijing and moving towards a peace agreement in Ukraine.
Summit and Symbolism
Putin will take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit alongside President Xi Jinping and around 20 other world leaders. After the meeting, the pair will hold direct talks before Putin attends a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in the Second World War.
The Kremlin says the events symbolise how Russia and China “stood shoulder to shoulder” against past enemies – and intend to do the same against today’s challenges.
High-Profile Encounters
The Russian leader is also due to meet India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, and several other regional leaders. A handshake with Mr Modi so soon after Washington hit India with steep tariffs on Russian oil purchases is likely to be viewed in Moscow as a diplomatic victory.
“The whole visit is being choreographed to show Russia cannot be isolated and that its alliances are resilient,” one European diplomat told M10News.
Trade Concerns
Beyond the pageantry, Putin’s agenda is also economic. Bilateral trade with China reached a record $245bn in 2024, but has fallen by 8% since January. That decline is causing concern in Moscow, where fears of a recession are growing.
Russia is expected to push for deeper cooperation in energy, technology and defence to secure long-term backing from Beijing.
Message to the West
For Putin, the extended visit is designed to demonstrate strength abroad even as his forces remain bogged down in Ukraine and Western sanctions bite at home.
It is also a clear message to Washington: Russia’s partnership with China is not only intact – it is strengthening.
