25th visit to China: Xi Jinping’s ‘old friend' Putin to arrive on Tuesday – what's on agenda

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China on Tuesday for a two-day visit, less than a week after US President Donald Trump made a high-profile trip to the country.Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ‘old friend’ visit is officially linked to the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.Putin last visited China in September 2025 to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin.What’s on the agenda?According to the official portal of the President of the Russian Federation, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss bilateral relations, ways to strengthen strategic cooperation between Russia and China, and key regional and international issues.The two leaders will also attend the opening ceremony of the Russia–China Years of Education (2026–2027).Following the talks, both sides are expected to sign a joint statement along with several bilateral and intergovernmental agreements.Putin is also scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.How strong is the China-Russia relationship?As cited by BBC, Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, described the China-Russia relationship as “highly uneven.”“The relationship is highly uneven, and any deals struck between the two countries will likely be on Chinese terms,” Gabuev said, adding that “Russia is fully in China’s pocket, and China can dictate the terms.”According to Al Jazeera, Putin said ahead of the visit that Moscow and Beijing were working together for “peace and universal prosperity.”Also read: After Donald Trump, Putin to visit China’s Xi Jinping on May 19 for two days