Putin, Xi to Deepen Trade Ties as Russia, China Reject ‘Discriminatory’ Sanctions

Russia and China stand united against “discriminatory” sanctions that hinder global trade and socio-economic development, President Vladimir Putin said in a written interview with China’s Xinhua news agency ahead of his state visit.

Putin begins a four-day trip to China on Sunday, starting with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin before holding talks in Beijing with President Xi Jinping and attending a military parade marking the end of World War II. The Kremlin has called the visit “unprecedented.”

“Economic cooperation, trade and industrial collaboration between our countries are advancing across multiple areas,” Putin said, adding that his talks with Xi would focus on expanding mutually beneficial projects.

The visit comes as Moscow seeks to shore up ties with Beijing amid its costly war in Ukraine. Since Western nations cut ties over the invasion in 2022, China has become Russia’s economic lifeline, buying discounted oil and exporting goods ranging from cars to electronics, pushing bilateral trade to a record $245 billion in 2024.

Putin and Xi, who proclaimed a “no limits” partnership in 2022, have met more than 40 times in the past decade.