New Agreement to Expand Russia–China Cooperation

Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang held a meeting in Beijing on May 20, 2026. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to advance Russia–China relations toward more practical, stable and long-term cooperation. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Premier Li said that amid a changing and complex international situation, China–Russia relations remain stable and predictable.

During the meeting, President Putin said his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping had been highly productive and useful. He noted that the two heads of state had signed a number of important documents, including joint statements, which clearly set out the two countries’ common approaches and areas of work in key sectors.

According to Putin, following his talks with President Xi, ambitious goals were set to take Russia–China cooperation to a qualitatively new stage. He said the governments of the two countries bear a special responsibility, as they are responsible for implementing cooperation in practical areas.

Speaking about Russia–China economic cooperation, Putin said that despite some adjustment in bilateral trade indicators at the end of 2025, trade turnover has been showing growth of more than 10 percent this year. He stated that trade cooperation would continue to move forward in line with approved long-term strategies, particularly the Plan for Russia–China Economic Cooperation through 2030. Xinhua also reported that the meeting addressed cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, transport and logistics, industry, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and scientific and technological innovation.

Putin said one of the priorities of the two countries is to protect Russia–China cooperation from negative external influence. According to him, the near-total use of national currencies in bilateral trade has become an important basis for this. He also said that the agenda includes the implementation of joint projects in energy, industry, space, agriculture, transport and logistics.

Putin said digital innovation and artificial intelligence technologies are opening new opportunities for the economic development of both countries. He added that humanitarian contacts are also developing actively in culture, cinema, sport, youth exchanges and tourism.

Putin noted that the decision to introduce a reciprocal visa-free regime between the two countries has made travel easier for tourists as well as for people engaged in practical work across various fields. He also said that, together with President Xi, the Russia–China Years of Education had been officially launched, expressing confidence that the interstate project would raise personnel training in various fields, including advanced industries, to a new level.

Earlier, President Xi Jinping and President Putin had held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two heads of state agreed to further expand the China–Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

During the meeting, both sides also emphasized strengthening coordination between Belt and Road cooperation and the Eurasian Economic Union, promoting the safe and high-quality development of China–Europe freight train services, and expanding exchanges in youth, culture, tourism and sport.