Just hours after President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 90-minute telephone conversation to discuss deepening their strategic partnership amid the shifting global landscape. The meeting, which was framed as a move to “deepen strategic coordination,” saw both leaders affirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the face of what they perceived as growing external uncertainties.
Xi’s comments underscored the ongoing efforts by both China and Russia to bolster ties in the face of a changing world order, particularly with the Trump administration’s policies raising questions about the future of U.S. foreign relations.
Putin, for his part, took the opportunity to highlight key joint projects that have solidified the China-Russia relationship, particularly in the energy sector. One such project is the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, operated by Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom. This pipeline, which delivers natural gas to China, was a major focal point of their discussion. Putin boasted about Russia’s position as the leading supplier of natural gas to China, noting that their energy cooperation has only deepened in recent years.
Indeed, Russia has become increasingly reliant on Chinese markets as European countries have reduced their dependence on Russian energy following the war in Ukraine. China, with its insatiable demand for energy resources, has stepped in to purchase significant amounts of Russian oil and gas. In fact, China’s imports of Russian crude oil reached a record high of 2.17 million barrels per day (bpd) last year, marking a new phase in the two countries’ energy partnership.
The conversation between Xi and Putin was characterized by a shared vision of a “multipolar” global order—one that challenges the traditional Western-dominated international system. Both leaders expressed a desire to work together to ensure “indivisible security” in Eurasia and beyond, with Putin claiming that their joint efforts were a stabilizing force in international affairs.
Though the two leaders avoided explicitly mentioning their respective military ambitions in Ukraine and Taiwan, their underlying messages were clear. The Chinese Communist Party’s statement following the call praised Putin for his “firm” stance on China’s claims over Taiwan, an issue that remains central to Beijing’s foreign policy. While China has repeatedly refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has also tried to present itself as a potential broker for peace, though its position often seems to favor Russia’s interests.
The Kremlin issued a statement noting that both Russia and China are open to building relations with the United States on a “mutually beneficial, mutually respectful basis,” should the Trump administration show interest in this.
Within days of his inauguration, Trump issued threats of tariffs and sanctions on both China and Russia. Trump vowed to impose 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods starting February 1, 2025, citing Beijing’s role in allegedly facilitating the trafficking of fentanyl to the U.S. He also warned Putin that “high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions” would follow unless Russia moved toward a resolution of the war in Ukraine.
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