Full story
Beijing Summit Signals Front
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin signalled a united front against Washington during a summit in Beijing, warning against a global return to the “law of the jungle”.
“warning against a global return to the “law of the jungle””
In a joint statement, China and Russia took aim at US President Donald Trump’s plans for a $175bn “Golden Dome” defence system, which would create a new missile field in the Midwest.
The leaders also criticised the expiry of the last US-Russia arms control treaty, which fell to the wayside in February when Trump failed to respond to Moscow’s proposal to extend it by a year.
In opening remarks, Russian media reported Putin telling Xi, “Even against the backdrop of unfavourable external factors, our interaction and economic cooperation demonstrate strong momentum,” while Xi lauded the “unyielding relationship” between China and Russia.
Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said that while the two leaders planned to sign some 40 agreements, energy security remained Putin’s priority.
Warm Ceremonies, Hard Messages
The summit followed a visit to Beijing by Donald Trump, and the BBC described Xi’s welcome for Putin as “a lavish ceremony in Beijing complete with national flags, a marching band and cheering children”.
In their joint condemnation of “irresponsible” US foreign policy, Xi and Putin warned of “a drift back to the law of the jungle”, with the Guardian saying the statement came after the summit followed Trump’s visit.
The Guardian reported that the leaders scolded the US for seeking to develop a “golden dome” missile defence system and for allowing a nuclear arms treaty to lapse in February.
NPR said Putin and Xi oversaw the signing of more than 40 cooperation agreements in areas such as trade, technology and media exchanges, and Xi declared the countries' ties had reached "the highest level in history,".
In the Great Hall of the People, NPR reported Putin told those in the room that "the driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector."
Energy Trade and Pipeline
Energy talks dominated the agenda, with NPR saying Putin and Xi stressed their growing trade, particularly in oil and natural gas, and declared themselves aligned on international relations.
“There was no visible progress, however, on the prospective Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline”
NPR reported that there was no visible progress on the prospective Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline, and a Russian presidential aide said earlier that Russia's oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026.
The Guardian said the two sides failed to finalise an agreement over a pipeline that would allow Russia to double its fossil gas exports to China, and industry observers suggested pricing was the biggest obstacle.
Al Jazeera reported that the talks did not lead to a new consensus on Power of Siberia 2, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that the two sides had reached a “basic understanding” on the pipeline, including its route, but that there was no “clear timeline”.
Looking ahead, AP said Xi switched to substance with Putin by “Reaffirming the friendship treaty, signing new energy deals, and re-emphasizing their ‘no limits’ partnership,” while noting that Putin’s trip served to deepen its strategic partnership with Russia.
