Chinese President Xi Jinping said he is ready to strengthen China-Russia relations and take them "to a new height" during a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin and the Kyiv Independent reported on January 21.
Since Russia’s war in Ukraine began, China has grown closer to Moscow and become a major supplier of goods that support Russia’s defense industry. However, Beijing has denied claims that it is helping Russia's military directly.
During the call, Xi said China is prepared to work with Russia to "handle external challenges" and maintain strong, stable ties that benefit both countries and promote fairness and justice worldwide.
Xi noted that trade and cooperation between the two nations are growing.
Putin added that trade between China and Russia has risen by 7%, reaching over $220 billion, and called China Russia's top trading partner.
"China is the biggest buyer of Russian energy. We are the top supplier of oil to China, and since launching the Power of Siberia gas pipeline five years ago, Russia is now the main supplier of natural gas to China," Putin said.
Since February 2022, Putin has visited China twice — once just before the Ukraine invasion and again in May 2024. Xi visited Russia in March 2023, where he called Putin his "dear friend."
China has also tried to act as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, sending envoy Li Hui on several diplomatic visits to Europe.
At the same time, China has criticized the U.S. and its allies for "making the conflict worse" by sending weapons to Ukraine. NATO has called China a "key enabler" of Russia’s war efforts.
