China-Russia Ties: Xi & Putin Discuss Global Stability & Strategic Coordination

Beijing and Moscow reaffirmed their deepening strategic partnership on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video conference to discuss growing bilateral ties and their respective relationships with the United States.

The call, which lasted nearly an hour and a half according to a Kremlin aide, comes as both nations navigate a period of increasing global turbulence and geopolitical realignment. Xi emphasized the responsibility of China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world powers, to promote equality and justice in the international community, defend the UN-centered international system, and safeguard global strategic stability. He stated a willingness to work on charting a new roadmap for the development of bilateral relations.

Putin echoed these sentiments, expressing Russia’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with China within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and BRICS, particularly given the increasingly complex and fragile international situation.

Shifting Global Dynamics

China’s strengthening ties with Russia are occurring against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical competition with the United States. Following Russia’s 2022 military offensive in Ukraine, China has emerged as a key economic and political partner for Moscow, providing a crucial lifeline as Russia faces Western sanctions. This alignment positions both countries as potentially counterbalancing forces to Western influence.

The leaders’ recent interactions – including Xi’s visit to Russia in May 2025 for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and Putin’s reciprocal visit to China in September 2025 for the SCO summit in Tianjin and a military parade in Beijing – underscore the growing closeness between the two nations. These visits took place during a period marked by trade tensions and economic uncertainty fueled by former US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, and signs of weakening in the transatlantic alliance.

The evolving relationship is also taking place as the United States appears to be reassessing its approach to Russia under a renewed Trump administration. Trump has proposed a peace plan for Ukraine that would exclude European allies, signaling a potential willingness to improve relations with Moscow even at the expense of transatlantic unity.

Washington’s Perspective

In March 2025, Trump characterized the strengthening bond between China and Russia as a consequence of what he described as flawed policies pursued by previous US administrations. As a student of history, you should know that China and Russia getting together is not a good thing. America’s bad policies forced Russia into a marriage with China, he stated in an interview with Fox News.

Both China and Russia have long been labeled as “revisionist powers” by the United States and Europe, accused of attempting to alter the rules-based international order through the use of force. However, the current US administration’s own actions – including the imposition of tariffs, claims regarding the Panama Canal, Gaza, Canada, and Greenland, and interventions in Venezuela and threats towards Iran – are increasingly positioning the United States as a revisionist power itself, prompting a re-evaluation of roles and rhetoric on the international stage.

Xi Jinping, during his conversation with Putin, highlighted the increasing turbulence in the international situation since the beginning of the year. He stressed the need for deeper strategic coordination and a more proactive approach to ensure the continued stable development of China-Russia relations. The Chinese president also held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, though details of that conversation were not immediately released.

The strengthening alliance between Beijing and Moscow is not merely economic; it encompasses political and security dimensions as well. Both countries have consistently voiced their opposition to what they perceive as Western interference in their internal affairs and have advocated for a multipolar world order. This shared worldview provides a strong foundation for their growing partnership, even as the global landscape continues to shift and evolve.

The implications of this deepening relationship extend far beyond the bilateral sphere, potentially reshaping the geopolitical balance of power and influencing the future of international relations. The continued alignment of China and Russia presents a significant challenge to the established international order and raises questions about the future of US influence in the world.