Xi goes to Moscow, Wang Yi gives readout on Sino-Russian Ties
The past few weeks, we have heard quite a bit about a reported Trump administration tactic to produce a “reverse nixon” by driving a wedge between Russia and China by thawing U.S. ties with Moscow. A number of scholars have debated this in elite foreign policy circles in the West. I will not weigh into this argument, but rather think it is worthwhile to read from Chinese FM Wang Yi Beijing’s projected view of Sino-Russian relations at the outset of Xi’s statement to Beijing.
A few key takeaways from Xi’s visit and what can be interpreted from Wang Yi’s briefing:
President Xi Jinping’s May 2025 visit to Russia offers a revealing snapshot of the current trajectory of Sino-Russian relations and raises important questions about the viability of U.S. efforts—such as a possible “reverse Nixon” under Donald Trump—to reorient Moscow away from Beijing. While the visit was rich in symbolism and ceremony, the deeper signals came through the structure and content of the diplomatic engagements. The emphasis on shared memory, institutional alignment, and future-oriented cooperation suggests that the China-Russia relationship is not merely a function of short-term geopolitical alignment but may be developing into a more resilient and strategically embedded partnership.
The visit marked Xi’s 11th to Russia as president and included over 10 hours of closed-door discussions with President Putin, culminating in a joint statement reaffirming their status as “priority partners.” While such language is not unusual in high-level diplomacy, the frequency of bilateral exchanges and the high level of political choreography do point to a sustained effort to frame the relationship as dependable and impervious to third-party manipulation. Xi’s insistence that the partnership is “not targeted at or subject to” third parties can be read, in part, as a response to speculation that Moscow might recalibrate its external alignments in light of shifting U.S. overtures.
Economic ties continue to serve as a central pillar of the relationship. Bilateral trade reached $244.8 billion in 2024, and the two sides used the visit to sign more than 20 new cooperation agreements across energy, artificial intelligence, space, and e-commerce. These agreements may be understood not only as a sign of mutual benefit, but also as a hedge against growing pressure from the West—particularly in the form of sanctions and export controls. The updated Investment Protection Agreement, for example, appears aimed at insulating bilateral commerce from protectionist headwinds, a move that may suggest a deepening of economic coordination in anticipation of continued decoupling from Western markets.
There are also indications that the two countries are converging more explicitly in their approach to international order. The joint statement on global strategic stability reflected shared opposition to zero-sum competition and “Cold War mentalities”—language that indirectly critiques U.S.-led security structures. Their commitment to working through multilateral forums like the UN, BRICS, and the SCO may be less about institutional loyalty and more about building diplomatic alternatives that can dilute Western influence. Similarly, discussions on the war in Ukraine revealed a kind of tacit division of labor: China continues to position itself as a neutral arbiter, while Russia signals openness to peace talks—so long as they do not come with Western preconditions. Whether this coordination represents genuine diplomatic alignment or convenient rhetoric remains open to interpretation, but it does reinforce the impression of an increasingly synchronized strategic posture.
Shared historical framing also plays a significant role in cementing the relationship. Xi’s participation in the Victory Day parade and the inclusion of Chinese military units were heavy with symbolism, but also reflective of an effort to anchor present-day cooperation in a legacy of wartime solidarity. By tying issues like Taiwan’s sovereignty to the post-WWII order and invoking the Cairo Declaration, Xi positioned China’s contemporary territorial claims within a broader historical narrative that Russia—given its own emphasis on historical continuity—has shown a willingness to endorse. For both sides, defending the legitimacy of the postwar order appears to serve dual purposes: affirming their international standing and rejecting Western revisionist pressures.
Whether these expressions of solidarity translate into long-term alignment remains uncertain, particularly given the asymmetries in the relationship. Russia, increasingly dependent on China economically, may see benefits in diversifying its strategic options. But for now, Beijing and Moscow appear to be reinforcing—not recalibrating—their partnership. While Trump-era advisors have floated the idea of flipping Russia as a strategic counterweight to China, the logic of such a maneuver seems increasingly misaligned with the on-the-ground reality. The incentives that once enabled Nixon’s opening to China—ideological divergence, minimal trade ties, and a shared strategic threat—do not apply in reverse. Instead, the May summit highlights the extent to which China and Russia are actively investing in parallel visions of global order, underpinned by shared interests, mutual grievances, and a growing sense of systemic rivalry with the West.
In this context, efforts to realign Moscow may face significant structural and normative obstacles. Whether this trajectory continues, deepens, or eventually fractures under external or internal pressures is uncertain. But at least for now, the visit signals that the China-Russia partnership remains more than a marriage of convenience—and may be evolving into something more durable.
The below is an English-translation of the readout Wang Yi gave to reporter following the event.
From May 7 to 10, 2025, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia at the invitation of the Russian Federation and attended the celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. At the end of the trip, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, briefed the accompanying reporters on the visit.
Wang Yi said that this visit is the 11th visit by President Xi Jinping to Russia since he assumed the presidency of the People's Republic of China, and it is also the first time in 10 years that he has attended the celebration of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. Against the backdrop of the accelerated evolution of the century-old changes and the intertwined changes in the international situation, this visit looks back on history, looks to the future, inherits friendship, and defends justice, and has achieved complete success. The visit schedule is rich and the activities are tight. President Xi Jinping attended nearly 20 bilateral and multilateral events, discussed major plans for strategic cooperation between China and Russia in various fields, celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and wrote a new chapter in maintaining international fairness and justice. He sent out a strong voice of the times that China-Russia relations are as solid as a rock, the results of the victory of the Second World War cannot be challenged, and the world wants justice instead of hegemony. Domestic and foreign public opinion paid close attention to this visit and conducted in-depth coverage. It is generally believed that this visit further consolidated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia in the new era, led the world to jointly maintain the post-war international order, and promoted the multipolarization of the world and the reconstruction of the international political landscape, which is of great historical significance.
1. Strengthen strategic guidance and promote steady progress of China-Russia relations
Wang Yi said that China and Russia are good neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and true friends forged through repeated trials and tribulations. The two countries share a common historical memory, have forged a profound traditional friendship, and uphold similar values and ideas, exploring the right way for the two major neighbors to get along with each other. Permanent good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win results have become the spiritual core of the relationship between the two countries. Over the past 70 years, China-Russia relations have become increasingly calm, confident, stable and tenacious, and are now in the best period in history, setting an example for a new type of relations between major countries.
The leadership of the heads of state is the fundamental guarantee for the steady and long-term development of China-Russia relations. President Xi Jinping and President Putin have met more than 40 times and have established deep mutual trust and sincere friendship. The Russian side received President Xi Jinping's visit with the highest level of courtesy this time. After President Xi Jinping's special plane entered Russian airspace, Russian fighter jets took off to escort it, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government went to the airport to greet and see him off. President Putin held a grand welcome ceremony in the Kremlin, had a one-on-one tea with President Xi Jinping in the Presidential Office, and held small-scale and large-scale talks to communicate in depth on issues of common concern, with exchanges lasting nearly 10 hours. The most important political achievement of this visit was the joint statement signed by the two heads of state on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era between China and Russia, which provided new strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage. The two sides reiterated that they always regard each other as a priority partner and will jointly resist any attempt to interfere with and undermine the traditional friendship and deep mutual trust between China and Russia, help their respective development and revitalization, and provide more stability for the world. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Russia relations have clear historical logic, strong endogenous driving force, and profound civilizational heritage. They are not targeted at third parties, nor are they subject to third parties. As long as China and Russia maintain strategic determination and adhere to strategic cooperation, no force can stop the two countries from achieving their respective development and revitalization, the people's aspirations for everlasting friendship between China and Russia, or the trend of the times of world multipolarization and economic globalization. President Putin stressed that Russia and China have always been in the same boat and supported each other, and the friendship between the two countries is unbreakable. It is Russia's strategic choice to unswervingly promote the development of Russia-China relations and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Russia-China relations are not affected by a single event or any external interference. International public opinion generally believes that every interaction between President Xi Jinping and President Putin is eye-catching. During this visit, the Chinese and Russian heads of state positioned the relationship between the two countries as a key force to promote the stability and progress of the international community and maintain world order, which once again reflects the high level of China-Russia relations. Trying to drive a wedge between China and Russia can only be a fantasy.
Pragmatic cooperation is the endogenous driving force for the stable development of China-Russia relations. China and Russia are fellow travelers on the road to modernization. China has maintained its position as Russia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. Last year, bilateral trade volume hit a record high of US$244.8 billion. Russia has become China's largest energy supplier. The two countries have complementary economic advantages, sufficient cooperation potential and great development space. During this visit, the two sides signed more than 20 cooperation documents, injecting new strong momentum into the development of China-Russia relations. The two sides agreed to continue to expand the cake of cooperation, consolidate the basic foundation of economic, trade and energy cooperation, support cross-border e-commerce, agriculture and mineral cooperation, steadily promote large-scale cooperation projects in the fields of nuclear energy and aerospace, and accelerate the expansion of cooperation in emerging fields such as scientific and technological innovation and artificial intelligence. The two sides signed a new version of the Investment Protection Agreement to improve institutional arrangements for high-level economic and trade cooperation and effectively hedge against the protectionist countercurrent. It is particularly worth mentioning that the ongoing "China-Russia Cultural Year" is brilliant, and "China fever" continues to heat up in various parts of Russia. The co-produced film "Red Silk" has been widely acclaimed, and the story of the revolutionaries of the two countries fighting side by side has moved a large number of audiences. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in areas such as education, youth, media, and film, constantly enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and pass on the China-Russia friendship from generation to generation.
Comprehensive strategic cooperation is a distinctive feature of China-Russia relations. China and Russia have highly consistent positions on major issues such as world multipolarization, economic globalization, and democratization of international relations, and the two sides maintain close communication and coordination on this. During this visit, the two sides issued a joint statement on global strategic stability, emphasizing that their own security cannot be guaranteed at the expense of the security of other countries, and that they should abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, resolve their respective concerns through equal dialogue and consultation, and strive to build a constructive relationship between major powers. The two heads of state reiterated that they will strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS, enhance the voice of developing countries in the global governance system, and advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarization and inclusive economic globalization. The two heads of state also had in-depth communication on issues such as the Ukrainian crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and agreed to promote political solutions to various hot issues. President Xi Jinping pointed out that on the issue of the Ukrainian crisis, China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace. China advocates a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security concept, and believes that it is necessary to pay attention to the reasonable security concerns of all countries and eliminate the root causes of the crisis. President Putin highly appreciated China's objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis, and expressed his willingness to start peace talks without preconditions, hoping to reach a just and lasting peace agreement.
Wang Yi said that change is the norm in the international landscape, and what remains unchanged is the mutual trust and mutual support between China and Russia. As long as the two major countries of China and Russia stand shoulder to shoulder and work closely together, the international order will not be disrupted, world justice will not fall, and power politics will not succeed. No matter how the international situation changes, China and Russia will move forward calmly under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, promote the development of bilateral relations to a wider range and deeper level, respond to various challenges facing the world today with the stability of China-Russia relations, create more benefits for the people of the two countries, and make greater contributions to the cause of human progress.
2. Protecting historical memory and safeguarding the results of the victory of World War II
Wang Yi said that the Second World War launched by militarism and fascism brought unprecedented catastrophe to mankind. 80 years ago, China and Russia, together with the progressive forces of the world, shared a common hatred of the enemy, fought bravely without fear of violence, paid huge national sacrifices, and achieved a great victory of justice over evil and light over darkness, laying the cornerstone of the post-war international order with blood and lives.
President Xi Jinping attended the "May 9" Victory Day celebration again to review this glorious period with other countries, promote the correct view of World War II history, and jointly defend the post-war international order. President Putin regarded President Xi Jinping as the most distinguished guest of the celebration. The two heads of state watched the grand military parade side by side on Red Square, laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier together, and expressed their lofty respect to the martyrs who fought bloody battles with the most solemn ceremony. The honor guard of the three services of the Chinese People's Liberation Army participated in the Red Square military parade again with a strict military appearance and upright and heroic posture, showing the iron will of Chinese soldiers to defend peace. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the Soviet Union, as the main battlefields in Asia and Europe of the Second World War respectively, were the mainstays in the fight against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, and made decisive contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. All attempts to distort the historical truth of the Second World War, deny the results of the victory of the Second World War, and discredit the historical achievements of China and Russia will not succeed. President Putin said that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people fought bravely and won the great victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, making a significant contribution to opening up a common future for mankind. Russia and China supported each other during the difficult years of war, forged a deep friendship, and laid a solid foundation for bilateral relations. The two sides should jointly oppose attempts to tamper with history, uphold the correct historical narrative, and safeguard the authority of the United Nations and international fairness and justice.
Wang Yi said that 80 years ago, on the basis of victory in World War II, China, Russia and important members of the anti-fascist alliance discussed the establishment of the United Nations and jointly formulated the UN Charter, opening a historical chapter of countries building peace and seeking common development. The international system with the United Nations at its core is a concentrated embodiment of the victory of World War II, supporting the stability and prosperity of the world, ensuring the basic pattern of overall peace, and promoting the long-term progress of human civilization. Today, 80 years later, the United Nations is facing an unprecedented impact. Some countries are pursuing national priority and power bullying, attempting to replace multilateralism with unilateralism and the post-war international order with so-called self-determined rules. President Xi Jinping pointed out in a resounding voice that the more turbulent and intertwined the international situation is, the more we must uphold and maintain the authority of the United Nations. As stable, positive and progressive forces in the international community, China and Russia must continue to stand firmly together and resolutely safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law. President Putin said that imposing high tariffs is contrary to common sense and illegal, and will only backfire on itself. He is willing to work with China to oppose unilateralism, oppose group confrontation, and safeguard the common interests of the international community. China and Russia once again issued a joint statement on further strengthening cooperation to safeguard the authority of international law, emphasizing full compliance with the UN Charter and basic principles of international law, opposing the abuse of unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction", and demonstrating the responsibility of the two countries as permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Wang Yi said that this autumn, China will also solemnly commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, highlighting the great contribution made by the Chinese nation to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and join hands with peace-loving countries and peoples to remember history, cherish the memory of martyrs, cherish peace and create the future. Looking back on this period of history, it is especially important to remember that Taiwan's return to China is the victory of the Second World War and an important part of the post-war international order. President Xi Jinping pointed out that a series of documents with international legal force, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have confirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan. Its historical and legal facts are unquestionable, and the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 cannot be challenged. No matter how the situation on the island of Taiwan changes, no matter how external forces mess up, the historical trend that China will eventually reunify and will reunify is unstoppable. President Putin stressed that Russia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and always supports China's position on the Taiwan issue. Leaders of Serbia, Cuba, Venezuela, Slovakia and other countries have expressed their firm adherence to the one-China policy and believe that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
Wang Yi said that the painful lessons of the Second World War are still fresh in our memory, and the hegemonism of supremacy and the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak must never be revived. People who cherish peace all over the world must remember the history written with blood and lives, firmly defend the victory of the Second World War, adhere to true multilateralism, adhere to the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint construction and sharing, and work together to strive for a brighter future for mankind.
3. Practice the responsibility of a major country and build the broadest international consensus
Wang Yi said that in today's world, the peace deficit, development deficit and governance deficit are increasing, and the Cold War mentality, power politics and hegemonic expansion are making a comeback. Countries are in different situations and have different foreign policies, but they all agree on one thing, that is, they all believe that multilateralism should be upheld and unilateralism should be opposed, they all support free trade and oppose protectionism, and they do not want to retreat to the dark world of "might is right". The international community attaches more importance to China's status and influence, and expects China to shoulder its responsibilities in a turbulent world and play a stabilizing and constructive role. During this visit, President Xi Jinping had extensive contacts with dignitaries from various countries attending the celebration, held bilateral meetings with leaders of many countries from three continents, and gathered broad consensus on firm mutual support, defending multilateralism and resisting power hegemony.
In March this year, a strong earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, caused heavy casualties and property losses. As a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe and helps each other, China sent rescue forces at the first time and provided 13 batches of emergency humanitarian supplies to help Myanmar solve its difficulties in resettlement, relief, health and epidemic prevention. When President Xi Jinping met with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, he expressed his willingness to continue to provide assistance and support the Myanmar people in rebuilding their homes. The Myanmar side expressed deep gratitude and said that China was the first to provide assistance to Myanmar and took the lead in helping Myanmar with disaster relief, which reflected the brotherhood and true feelings in times of trouble with Myanmar, and the Myanmar people will always remember it. President Xi Jinping emphasized that China supports Myanmar in taking a development path that suits its national conditions, safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national stability, and steadily advancing its domestic political agenda. The Myanmar side expressed its commitment to promoting cooperation between the two countries and will make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese projects and personnel in Myanmar. The two sides agreed to continue to practice the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, carry forward the Bandung Spirit, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Myanmar.
In recent years, Latin American and Caribbean countries have suffered from unilateral sanctions and hegemonic bullying, which has seriously affected their economic development and people's lives. President Xi Jinping met with Cuban President Diaz-Canel and Venezuelan President Maduro respectively, reiterating that China firmly supports the two countries in safeguarding their national sovereignty and national dignity, and firmly supports the two peoples in opposing external interference. President Xi Jinping pointed out that Latin American and Caribbean countries are sovereign and independent countries, not anyone's "backyard". This year marks the 10th anniversary of the official operation of the China-Latin America Forum. China is willing to work with regional countries to strengthen unity and cooperation and promote the steady and long-term construction of a China-Latin America community with a shared future. The leaders of the two countries thanked China for its long-term selfless help in safeguarding national sovereignty and achieving economic and social development in the two countries, and highly appreciated the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping. They are willing to work with China to oppose unilateralism and protectionism, promote the development of Latin American-China relations, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.
China and the European Union have just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Since the beginning of this year, exchanges and cooperation between China and the EU in various fields have been fully launched, and the consensus on practicing multilateralism, adhering to strategic autonomy, and maintaining international rules has been further deepened. When meeting with Serbian President Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Fico, President Xi Jinping stressed that China is willing to follow the historical trend of openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results with European countries, strengthen strategic communication, and promote the continuous positive development of China-EU relations. China and the EU should firmly adhere to multilateralism, jointly resist unilateral bullying, safeguard the achievements of economic globalization, and safeguard the global free trade system and international economic and trade order. President Vucic said that China is Serbia's most valuable friend and is willing to expand economic and trade exchanges with China. He believes that China's ideas and actions have enhanced the courage and confidence of the international community to safeguard common interests. Prime Minister Fico said that a healthy and stable EU-China relationship is in the common interests of both sides, and Slovakia is willing to continue to play a constructive role in this regard, and appreciates China's legitimate position on issues such as Ukraine and the Middle East.
Wang Yi finally said that this visit to Russia is a major action by President Xi Jinping to coordinate the domestic and international situations, manage the relations between major powers and the overall diplomatic situation, and is also another successful practice of Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought. At this critical historical moment of fierce competition between unilateralism and multilateralism, and deep competition between maintaining hegemony and opposing hegemony, China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, once again bravely stood at the forefront and stood firmly on the right side of history, on the side of the progress of human civilization, and on the side of the common interests of the vast majority of countries, and more clearly established the image of a responsible, responsible and trustworthy major power. The clouds are flying, but the will for peace is not stopped; the waves are crashing on the shore, and the sails of cooperation are raised high. We must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, deeply understand and practice Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, unswervingly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and strive to create a new situation in which China's major power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics is more effective and better, and create a more favorable international environment for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization.