About our China-Russia news
Latest news on China/Russia relations, covering diplomacy, trade, military cooperation, sanctions, the Ukraine conflict, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and geopolitical tensions with the West.
The China-Russia partnership represents one of the most consequential geopolitical alliances in today's international order. With Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin having met over 40 times since 2013, the two nations have significantly deepened their strategic cooperation across multiple domains including energy, trade, technology, and defence. Trade between the two countries reached a record $240 billion in 2023, demonstrating the economic dimension of what both leaders have described as a "no limits" partnership.
Recent developments have seen China and Russia expanding their cooperation in response to Western sanctions. Beijing continues to provide economic support to Moscow amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, although it has publicly maintained a stance of neutrality. Major joint military exercises, including naval drills in the South China Sea and joint air patrols near Japan, signal growing security coordination. Chinese companies have increasingly filled the void left by Western firms that exited the Russian market, particularly in technology sectors like telecommunications and automotive manufacturing.
Beyond official diplomatic ties, cultural exchanges between China and Russia have flourished in recent years. Tourism between the two nations has rebounded strongly, with visa-free travel arrangements facilitating greater people-to-people contact. Educational partnerships have expanded, with thousands of Chinese students studying in Russian universities and vice versa. Local governments in border regions like Heilongjiang Province and Russia's Far East have established special economic zones to encourage cross-border community initiatives and business development.
The China-Russia relationship has deep historical roots, marked by periods of both alliance and tension. After the 1949 establishment of the People's Republic of China, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin provided crucial support to Mao Zedong's new communist government. However, the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s led to decades of hostility, including border conflicts. The rapprochement that began in the 1980s accelerated following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, with both nations finding common cause in opposing what they view as Western hegemony and promoting a "multipolar world order".
Our NewsNow feed on China-Russia relations brings you comprehensive coverage from authoritative sources worldwide, including major policy announcements, diplomatic meetings, economic data, and expert analysis. As this partnership continues to reshape global politics and challenge Western-led institutions, staying informed about developments between these two major powers remains essential for understanding the evolving international landscape.