Signing of over 40 agreements during Beijing summit between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cements ‘historical peak’ in China-Russia ties
5-MIN READ5-MIN ListenJosephine MaandFan ChenPublished: 11:34pm, 20 May 2026Updated: 11:45pm, 20 May 2026Days after US President Donald Trump’s visit framed around managing risks, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a raft of agreements and pledged deeper cooperation as they met in Beijing.An analyst in China captured the stark contrast between the two visits as a clear choice between pomp and pragmatism.
“Over these 30 years, our relations, tempered by wind and rain, have risen to ever new heights, following the dictates of the times,” Xi said after the summit on Wednesday morning, referencing the 30th anniversary this year of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.
“[Ties] are now at the historical peak of a comprehensive partnership and strategic coordination in a new era and are rightfully considered a model of a new type of relationship between major powers,” Xi added.
In all, over 40 agreements at government and corporate levels were reached during his visit, Putin told reporters at the same briefing.
