Xis Moscow Visit: Strengthening China-Russia Ties Amid Global Tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for an important three-day visit, which includes a significant Victory Day parade and a demonstration of support for Vladimir Putin.

In the weeks leading up to Putin’s decision to launch the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow and Beijing announced a «no-limits partnership.» Their enhanced military and trade collaboration since then has caused concern in the West.

This visit occurs amidst escalating tensions between China and the U.S. due to strict U.S. trade tariffs. President Donald Trump has also reached out to Putin in an effort to mediate the situation in Ukraine.

In an article published on Wednesday in the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Xi praised the «resilient» relationship between China and Russia, urging other nations to refrain from interfering in their partnership.

«The two countries must collaboratively oppose any attempts to disrupt or undermine the friendship and mutual trust between China and Russia, remaining undeterred by temporary events or turbulent circumstances, and leveraging the strength and resilience of their strategic cooperation to advance global multipolarity and the formation of a community with a common future for humanity,» he stated.

Xi’s arrival was covered live by Russian state television.

The day prior, the Kremlin hailed the relationship between Russia and China as a «true example» of collaboration and noted that it was «at its highest point.»

During a private meeting, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss the situation in Ukraine as well as Russia-U.S. relations.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry, the two leaders will aim to «unite the Global South, guide global governance positively, firmly oppose unilateralism and coercion, and jointly foster an equitable and orderly multipolar world,» as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

Putin is set to address the largest-ever Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, as a show of support for his military engaged in Ukraine.

Xi will be the guest of honor at the May 9 parade, which will also feature 29 foreign leaders, including three from states that are either not recognized or have partial recognition.

To coincide with the celebrations, Putin has declared a three-day ceasefire on the front lines in Ukraine.

Kyiv has dismissed this gesture, viewing it as a tactic by Moscow to ensure the parade’s safety, and has called for a month-long ceasefire instead.

Ukraine, which has conducted drone strikes on Moscow leading up to the parade, stated it would not take responsibility for any developments in Russia.

Some nations have contacted Kyiv to request guarantees for their leaders’ safety during the parade.

For the event, China has dispatched 102 soldiers, making it the largest foreign military contingent among the 13 nations participating.

On Tuesday, Ukraine warned against foreign troops taking part in the parade, labeling it «unacceptable» and claiming it aids Moscow in «whitewashing its war crimes.»

World War II, known in Russia as the «Great Patriotic War,» had a catastrophic effect on the Soviet Union, leading to more than 20 million military and civilian casualties.

Throughout his leadership, Putin has harnessed this national trauma, positioning May 9 as Russia’s most significant public holiday and celebrating his military as defenders against fascism.

The Kremlin has also drawn comparisons between its military operations in Ukraine and the fight against the Nazis.

China has presented itself as a neutral entity in the ongoing conflict, which has lasted over three years, although Western governments argue that its close ties with Russia have provided vital economic and diplomatic backing to Moscow.

Earlier this April, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China of supplying arms to Russia and claimed that Beijing was aware of at least 155 Chinese nationals engaged in combat alongside Russian forces.

Beijing has refuted assertions that its citizens were being recruited en masse by Russia and advised Chinese nationals to avoid involvement in conflicts.

It has also denied allegations of supplying weaponry to either side in the conflict.

Over the past decade, China and Russia have strengthened their partnership, with Beijing rising to become Moscow’s largest trade partner following extensive Western sanctions.

Nonetheless, Russia is only China’s fifth-largest trade partner, as Beijing mainly relies on Moscow for its substantial natural gas and oil supplies.

Chinese companies swiftly filled the gap left by the withdrawal of Western firms—especially in the automotive industry—after Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine.