Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign dozens of agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit, highlighting the increasingly close alignment between the two powers on foreign policy, trade, and opposition to what they describe as Western unilateralism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on expanding economic and strategic cooperation, marking the 25th anniversary of a landmark friendship treaty.

The nations have increasingly aligned around the concept of a “multipolar world” – an order they argue should no longer be dominated by the West and the United States. Both countries accuse Washington of misusing sanctions, military alliances, and the global financial system to maintain its dominance while advocating for greater roles for emerging powers in international decision-making.

Russia and China have promoted deeper cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, presenting them as alternatives to Western-led institutions and pillars of a more balanced global order. Russia supports the One China policy, which holds that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. While most countries formally adhere to this principle, continued U.S. military support for Taipei has fueled rising tensions between Washington and Beijing.

“The Taiwan question is the most critical issue in China-U.S. relations,” Xi Jinping stated recently during President Donald Trump’s delayed visit to Beijing, warning that mishandling it could trigger “clashes and conflicts” between the two powers. The visit was postponed for weeks due to escalating U.S.-Israeli tensions over Iran.

Moscow has condemned the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran as “entirely unprovoked aggression.” Beijing has also denounced the conflict, warning that fighting in the region and the resulting disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have caused global energy and economic shocks. China, the primary buyer of Iranian crude oil, has significantly reduced its supply since U.S. and Israeli strikes in February. In response, Russia has increased its oil exports to China to offset the shortfall.

Both Moscow and Beijing have repeatedly called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict through dialogue and negotiation. China has proposed several peace initiatives regarding the Ukraine conflict over recent years, consistently urging Russia and Kiev to restart talks and seek lasting settlements that address the root causes of the crisis.

Russia characterizes the conflict as a NATO-backed proxy war initiated by U.S.-led expansion toward its borders and growing influence over Kiev following the 2014 Western-backed coup. Moscow insists any durable peace agreement must include Ukraine’s return to a neutral, non-aligned status, along with its demilitarization and “denazification,” as well as the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from territories that voted to join Russia in 2022.