EditXi and Putin’s Beijing summit: symbolic unity amid limits of the “no-limits” partnership
Despite Moscow’s high expectations, the summit yielded no deal for Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which could double its gas exports to China via Mongolia
Just days after hosting U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing on for a carefully choreographed summit. The meeting – featuring honor guards, a state banquet, and an intimate tea session – underscored the enduring personal rapport between the two leaders, who have now met more than 40 times.
Yet beneath the pageantry and joint criticism of Washington, the encounter revealed the practical constraints of a relationship often described as having “no limits.”
Strategic alignment against the U.S.
In their joint statement, Xi and Putin presented a united front on key security issues. They condemned Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system as a threat to global strategic stability and criticized the U.S. for allowing the New START nuclear arms control treaty to expire without extension. The language was sharp, framing U.S. policy as irresponsible and destabilising.
This rapid pivot after the Trump summit serves a clear diplomatic purpose for Beijing: it signals that while China seeks manageable relations with the United States, it will not align with Washington on issues central to its partnership with Russia. The timing – less than a week after Trump’s visit – amplifies the message that China positions itself as a balancer and indispensable player in global affairs.
No major breakthroughs, especially on energy
Despite Moscow’s high expectations, the summit yielded no significant new energy deal. Russia has long pushed for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which could double its gas exports to China via Mongolia. While both sides spoke of a “general understanding” and ongoing contract work, core disagreements on pricing, financing, and terms remain unresolved.
This outcome highlights an asymmetry in the relationship. Russia, heavily sanctioned and cut off from much of its traditional European energy market, needs China more urgently. Beijing, by contrast, maintains leverage and flexibility, preferring to move cautiously on long-term commitments while benefiting from discounted Russian oil and gas via existing routes.
Tea diplomacy and personal bonding
The meeting’s symbolic elements were telling. Putin received full military honours at the Great Hall of the People, followed by a banquet featuring Peking duck and a private tea session with Xi and a small group of aides – echoing previous intimate settings used to project personal friendship. Both leaders praised bilateral ties as reaching an “unprecedented level,” reaffirming the 2022 strategic partnership signed just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Yet analysts note that this summit, while warm, lacked the historic weight of earlier encounters (such as the 2022 “no-limits” declaration). With over 40 meetings between them, the routine of high-level coordination now appears more operational than groundbreaking.
Broader context: Xi as the steady power
The back-to-back summits with Trump and Putin allow Xi to project China as a pillar of stability. As Patricia Kim of the Brookings Institution observed, both Putin and Trump face protracted conflicts of their own making, while Xi has focused on internal consolidation and global image-building.
For Russia, the visit reinforces its pivot to the East and provides diplomatic cover. For China, it maintains a vital strategic rear while avoiding over-dependence. The partnership remains deep on security alignment and mutual resistance to Western pressure, but transactional limits – particularly in energy – persist. In essence, the Beijing tea diplomacy reaffirmed a resilient axis of convenience more than a transformative alliance. As global tensions evolve under the new Trump administration, both leaders will likely continue to lean on each other – but on Beijing’s measured terms.
Caption: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a tea ceremony during their meeting in Beijing, China, 20 May 2026. Putin is on a two-day official visit to China from 19 to 20 May. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / KREMLIN / POOL
Updated: May 21, 2026 - 06:20
