2025 Russia-China Presidential Visits Confirmed As Putin & Xi Discuss Trade and Development

The Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by video conference on Tuesday (January 21). Xi was invited to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, while Putin was invited to China’s events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in Beijing on September 3. The talks were part of their traditional New Year video call, and lasted over an hour and a half, according to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign-policy aide.

During the discussion, Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to negotiate with Washington in order to end the Ukraine conflict, stating that “Moscow is ready to build relations on a mutually beneficial and respectful basis if Trump’s team really shows an interest in this.”

The newly-inaugurated US president has repeatedly promised to stop the fighting between Moscow and Kiev after he’s back in office.

CNN has reported that Trump’s team is planning for a phone call with Moscow, which could take place shortly after his inauguration. US media outlets have recently reported that Trump’s team is mulling a peace plan for Ukraine which could include a ceasefire along the current front lines and the creation of an 800-mile (1,300-kilometer) demilitarized zone patrolled by European troops.

Putin on Monday welcomed Trump’s statements about wanting to restore relations with Russia, but told reporters on Tuesday that Moscow has not been contacted by the White House on the issue of scheduling a phone call between the countries’ leaders.

Xi, in turn, provided Putin with details of his recent conversation with Trump which took place on January 17 and was unrelated to the incoming president’s inauguration.

Moscow and Beijing also discussed the steady growth of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries despite Western sanctions. Ushakov said that “The two heads of state stressed the need to further improve transport interconnectivity, modernize border infrastructure, checkpoints, and increase cargo traffic between our countries, including within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).”

Putin and Xi also talked about joint energy projects, including the Far Eastern pipeline route, which they said is progressing as planned. Moscow and Beijing signed an agreement for additional Russian pipeline gas deliveries from the shelf off Sakhalin Island to China in February 2023. Energy supplies via the pipeline are scheduled to start in 2027.

Work on other joint initiatives, such as the Power of Siberia 2 mega pipeline, and the construction of power units at two Chinese nuclear power plants, is also underway, Ushakov said.

According to the Chinese press release:

“Xi Jinping stressed that in the new year, he is willing to work together with President Putin to continue guiding China-Russia relations in seeking lofty goals and far-reaching prospects, thus using the stability and resilience of the bilateral relationship to address the uncertainties in the external environment and jointly promote the development and rejuvenation of the two countries while safeguarding international fairness and justice.

Both sides must further deepen strategic coordination, resolutely support each other, and safeguard their legitimate interests. The two sides should consolidate and expand their bilateral relationship and advance practical cooperation.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of both the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

China and Russia should use this occasion to jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the outcomes of World War II, urge all countries to adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism.”