Putin and Xi to lay foundations for a new world order in Beijing

Putin and Xi to lay foundations for a new world order in Beijing

RT

President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing this week to attend ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II on the Asian front. For China, the commemoration is more than an historical ritual. It represents the culmination of a century-long struggle against foreign domination, from the Opium Wars of the mid-19th century to Japan’s defeat in 1945. Russia’s public recognition of that struggle – and the sacrifices of the Chinese people – carries immense symbolic weight for Beijing.

But Putin’s visit is not only a gesture toward history. It is a signal of unity. Russia and China are presenting the world with a shared vision, both of the past and of the future. For the Global South, it underscores that there is an alternative to Western hegemony. For the West, it is a reminder that this alternative cannot be dismissed.

The Trump administration’s attempt to pry Moscow and Beijing apart may have been Washington’s last opportunity to preserve undisputed global primacy. That chance is gone. By 2025, Russian-Chinese foreign policy coordination is closer than at any point in the past half century, and Putin’s Beijing visit will cement that reality.

The war in Ukraine will inevitably be at the center of Putin’s discussions with Xi Jinping. China is keen to play a more active role in shaping a settlement, a role that aligns with Russian interests. Dozens of Western governments have become emotionally and politically entangled in daily support for Kiev.

By contrast, Moscow seeks the public backing of its BRICS partners, above all China. Beijing’s weight in global trade gives it tools to soften the EU’s aggressive posture. And Chinese leaders understand that today’s debates about Ukraine are not just about territory in Eastern Europe – they are negotiations over the emerging world order.

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Russia and China ‘united in our vision’ – Putin

RT

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia and China are “united in our vision” of a just, multipolar world order, ahead of his official visit to China for high-level talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and Victory Day celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

In a written interview with Xinhua News Agency published ahead of his trip, the Russian president framed the Moscow–Beijing partnership as a stabilising force on the world stage, playing a significant role in shaping global affairs.

“Time and again, our exchanges on critical international issues have shown that Moscow and Beijing share broad common interests and strikingly similar views on fundamental questions,” he said. “We are united in our vision of building a just, multipolar world order, with a focus on the nations of the Global Majority.”

“As the two leading powers in Eurasia, we cannot remain indifferent to the challenges and threats facing our continent and the wider world,” he added, noting that this remains a “constant focus” of bilateral political dialogue. He also highlighted Russia’s concept of a “common space of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia,” which he said closely aligns with the Global Security Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Putin said visit builds on the success of Chinese president’s state visit to Moscow in May, which marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Putin’s official visit to China will take place from August 31 to September 3, beginning with his participation in the SCO summit in Tianjin, followed by Victory Day events in Beijing. In the Chinese capital, Putin will hold talks with Xi, first in an expanded format including key ministers and business leaders, and then privately. The agenda includes regional security, relations with the United States, the conflict in Ukraine, and upcoming multilateral summits. On the sidelines, Putin is expected to meet leaders from Iran, India, Türkiye and others.