Moscow and Beijing have expanded cooperation across trade, energy, finance, and infrastructure.
Russia and China have built an expansive economic partnership while deepening coordination within BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the G20 and the UN Security Council. Both governments say their growing network of bilateral projects and multilateral cooperation is aimed at shielding their economies from external pressure and advancing a more “multipolar” world order.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to Beijing, which began on Tuesday, is expected to further strengthen ties between the neighboring powers.
Bilateral trade has exceeded $200 billion for three straight years, surpassing $240 billion in 2025. Trade turnover reached $85.2 billion in the first four months of 2026, up nearly 20% year-on-year, according to customs data.
China has remained Russia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while Russia has climbed into the top eight of China’s trading partners. Moscow exports energy, raw materials and agricultural goods, while Beijing supplies machinery, vehicles, electronics and consumer products. The escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 and subsequent Western sanctions on Russia have further accelerated economic ties between the two countries.
