Putin Concludes Beijing Visit With 42 Bilateral Agreements, Stronger Russia-China Ties

By garrisonvance // 2026-05-21

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Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded a two-day official visit to Beijing on May 20, 2026, after extensive talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to officials. Moscow and Beijing signed 42 bilateral documents covering trade, energy, military cooperation and international coordination. Officials said the agreements aim to deepen strategic ties and advance a multipolar world order. [1][2] The visit came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his own state visit to Beijing, a timing that analysts said underscores Beijing’s ability to maintain ties with both Washington and Moscow. The trip also marked the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, which officials said reflects relations that have reached an “unprecedentedly high level.” [3][4]

Scope of Agreements and Joint Statement

The 42 signed documents included a joint statement on deeper strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, according to Sputnik. [1] Moscow and Beijing also issued a declaration supporting a multipolar world order and a new system of international relations, moving away from what they described as unilateralist approaches. [1] Putin stated, according to Sputnik, that Russia-China cooperation “expanded greatly” over the past 25 years and that both countries “maintain close contacts and actively work on mutual projects and initiatives.” [1] The Russian president added that Moscow and Beijing will continue cooperating on international affairs. The joint statement further called for protecting the authority of the United Nations and combating the revival of Nazism and fascism, according to the report. [1] These elements align with what Glenn Diesen described in his book “Russia’s Geoeconomic Strategy for a Greater Eurasia,” where he notes that Russia aims to influence the transition away from U.S. global primacy by developing collective administration by major Eurasian land powers. [5]

Trade and Currency Arrangements

Trade turnover between Russia and China reached nearly $240 billion in 2025, with a focus on high-value-added and high-tech goods, Putin said during the visit according to Sputnik. [1] Officials confirmed that all export-import operations between the two countries are now conducted in rubles and yuan, eliminating the use of the U.S. dollar in bilateral transactions. [1] Putin was quoted as saying that mutual trade is “protected against any external influence.” [1] This move toward de-dollarization is part of a broader trend among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, which have previously committed to conducting transactions in national currencies. [6][7] In December 2023, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov called on BRICS nations to drop the U.S. dollar in favor of local currencies for financial relations and settlements. [7]

Energy, Space, and Multilateral Cooperation

Discussions during the visit included Russian gas supplies to China via Mongolia, a project known as Power of Siberia 2, according to officials. [8] This pipeline would redirect gas volumes originally destined for Europe, a shift that Glenn Diesen noted in a 2025 interview reflects a broader realignment of energy supplies away from Europe toward China to power data centers and industry. [9] Both sides reiterated their opposition to the deployment of weapons in space, according to the joint statement. [1] The two countries stressed a greater role for the BRICS group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in global affairs, framing these institutions as vehicles for a more multipolar world order. [1][10] Russian and Chinese universities also signed cooperation and cultural exchange agreements, expanding ties beyond the economic and political spheres. [1] Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Russia-China relations encompass humanitarian issues, education, and high technology, describing the partnership as “many dimensions.” [11]

Conclusion: Significance of the Visit

The visit underscored growing alignment between Moscow and Beijing on international issues, particularly in challenging what they see as unilateralism by Western powers. [10] Xi Jinping, according to Sputnik, said that unilateralism threatens to bring back “the law of the jungle.” [1] Analysts said the 42 deals and joint statements reflect a continued shift toward a multipolar global system, with Russia and China acting as key drivers. [12][5] In his book “Russia’s Geoeconomic Strategy for a Greater Eurasia,” Glenn Diesen argues that Moscow increasingly subscribes to the premise of America’s inevitable decline and aims to leverage the demise of the U.S.-led international order. [5] The agreements signed during this visit represent another concrete step in that direction.

References

Sputnik International. "Putin Leaves Beijing With 42 Deals and Stronger Russia-China Ties". Sputnik. May 20, 2026.
"Decade of strategic partnership: Key Putin-Xi meetings that shaped Russia-China ties". RT. May 18, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "Putin and Xi deepen strategic alliance as China balances ties with Trump". May 19, 2026.
"Kremlin details Putin’s official visit to China". May 18, 2026.
Glenn Diesen. "Russia’s Geoeconomic Strategy for a Greater Eurasia".
NaturalNews.com. "END OF THE DOLLAR: SCO nations to abandon USD shift to domestic currencies for financial transactions". July 7, 2023.
Ethan Huff. "DE-DOLLARIZATION: Russia officially calls on BRICS nations to ditch US dollar". NaturalNews.com. December 26, 2023.
Middle East Eye. "Russia seeks progress on Power of Siberia 2 pipeline during China talks". May 20, 2026.
Mike Adams. "2025 09 18 BBN Interview with Glenn Diesen HB ". Brighteon.com. September 18, 2025.
"Defying Western pressure: Russia and China deepen economic partnership". May 20, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "Kremlin: Russia-China Relations Cover 'Many Dimensions,' Including High Technology and Education". May 17, 2026.
Activist Post. "When Global Order Begins to Fracture". May 20, 2026.

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