On the eve of his visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized Western sanctions as Russia’s economy teetered on the brink of recession, burdened by trade restrictions and the costs of the Ukraine war. In an interview with China’s Xinhua news agency, Putin emphasized the joint opposition of Russia and China to “discriminatory” sanctions in global trade. His four-day visit includes attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, followed by high-level talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing and participation in a major military parade commemorating the end of World War II.
Putin highlighted that China is Russia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching a record $245 billion in 2024, mostly conducted in rubles and yuan. Despite Western condemnation of China’s support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, Putin underscored the extensive economic cooperation, including exports of oil, gas, pork, and beef. The two countries have also worked to reduce trade barriers and intensify industrial collaboration across multiple sectors.
The SCO summit, which Putin will attend, marks a strategic forum where Eurasian nations discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and multilateralism. Russia and China’s “no limits” partnership, declared in 2022, has deepened over more than 40 meetings between the two leaders. The visit reflects Russia’s pivot towards Asia amid Western isolation efforts and underscores the growing influence of the SCO bloc, which now includes India, Iran, and other key members.
Putin’s last visit to China was in 2024, and despite facing accusations from the International Criminal Court related to the Ukraine conflict, he continues to prioritize strengthening ties with China. The upcoming meetings and events in Beijing are seen as critical for Russia’s strategy to bolster economic resilience and geopolitical positioning in an increasingly multipolar world.
