At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a state visit to China from May 19 to 20, a further demonstration of the close-level contacts that have become a hallmark of China-Russia relations in the new era.

Putin's visit comes at a historically significant moment. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia, as well as the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination between China and Russia.

Over the past decade, diplomacy between the heads of state has played a central role in managing bilateral relations in a rapidly changing global environment. Since 2013, Xi and Putin have maintained frequent contact. Xi has visited Russia 11 times, while Putin has visited China 13 times, underscoring the enduring strength and strategic nature of the bilateral relationship.

Diplomacy between heads of state provides strategic guidance.

"The frequency and depth of their contacts is something rarely seen elsewhere in the world," said Zhao Long, a researcher at the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies.

He noted that the two leaders have met more than 40 times in the past decade, and that diplomacy between heads of state has become a strong pillar of high-level mutual trust and a key driver of practical cooperation in a wide range of areas.

In March 2013, Russia became the first country that Xi visited after assuming the office of Chinese president. In 2019, both sides elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination for a new era, which represents the highest level in the history of bilateral relations.

In 2025, Putin visited China to attend the SCO summit and commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On February 4 of this year, Xi and Putin held a video conference during which they discussed the future development of bilateral relations and coordination on international platforms.

Under the leadership of both heads of state, China and Russia have continuously deepened political mutual trust and firmly supported each other on issues concerning their core interests, including sovereignty, security, and development. The two sides have also strengthened coordination on major international platforms, such as the United Nations, SCO, BRICS, APEC, and G20, jointly opposing unilateralism and contributing to the building of a multipolar world.

Xi has previously stated that China and Russia have found a new path for how two major neighboring powers can get along, characterized by non-alignment, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party, thereby setting an example of a new type of relationship between major powers.

Practical cooperation reaches new heights.

With deepening political mutual trust, the two countries have achieved significant results in extensive practical cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, and culture.

Despite global economic headwinds, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries continues to expand, with both sides actively promoting the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the Eurasian Economic Union. More than 70% of China-Europe freight trains under the BRI transit through Russia on their way to Europe, and the number of connections continues to reach record highs.

China remains Russia's largest trading partner for the 16th consecutive year. According to the latest data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade reached $227.9 billion in 2025, exceeding the $200 billion mark for the third year in a row. In the first quarter of this year, bilateral trade amounted to $61.2 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 14.7%. People-to-people exchanges are also continuing to develop. The two countries have jointly organized a number of exchange programs over the years, including language years, tourism years, youth exchange programs, and cultural years. During the China-Russia Cultural Years 2024-2025, a series of cultural exchange activities took place. The original Chinese dance drama "Wing Chun" was performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, while performances by the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra and the Bolshoi Ballet in China were met with great enthusiasm from the audience. In 2025, China and Russia also implemented a mutual visa-free regime, which led to a tourism boom between the two countries. From deepening political mutual trust to expanding practical cooperation and increasing people-to-people contacts, China and Russia continue to strengthen their bilateral friendship. Against a backdrop of growing global uncertainty, the upcoming meeting between the two heads of state is expected to further advance bilateral relations, bring greater benefits to the people of both countries, and provide more stability and a positive impetus to a changing world. **CMG**