Program of views: Moscow and Beijing are shaping a new approach to global security
Vladimir Putin's visit to China should formalize a common vision of the Russian Federation and China for the future global security system. The Russian president arrived in Beijing on May 19, but the main talks with Xi Jinping will take place the next day. Beijing will discuss not just the peaceful settlement of individual conflicts, but further cooperation between major powers. And it is China, for example, that can organize the next meeting between Putin and Trump at the upcoming APEC summit, experts believe. It is possible to build a dialogue between Russia, China and the United States on this platform, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia.
How Putin is received in Beijing
On May 19, the Russian President arrived in China on an official visit. He was met at the airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, after which the Russian leader took an Aurus and went straight to the Diaoyutai state Residence at his disposal. The main program of the visit will begin on May 20. Negotiations with the Chinese president, the signing of dozens of documents and, of course, the discussion of the international agenda are expected.
The trip is officially timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China. But the visit is intended to solve deeper problems than confirming the already unprecedented level of relations between the two countries, as Vladimir Putin mentioned on the eve of the visit.
The main outcome should be the signing of an agreement on further strengthening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. On 47 pages, Putin and Xi define the main directions of the development of Russian-Chinese relations, a common vision of the international agenda and formats of interaction between the countries.
Of particular interest is the future Declaration on the Establishment of a Multipolar World and a new Type of International Relations. The full text of the document has not yet been published, but the formula itself already reflects the general approach of Moscow and Beijing to world politics. It is likely that the parties will record a rejection of the dominance of one center of power, support for the sovereignty and equality of states, as well as coordination on key international platforms.
This is happening at a time when the United States is breaking off previous agreements and actually moving to a tougher policy, Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, said in a conversation with Izvestia.
Not least because of Washington's actions, the world is on the verge of a global catastrophe: the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rupture of arms treaties, including the START Treaty and the INF Treaty, are clear evidence of this. And now it is vital to determine how the system of international relations will continue to function.
— The declaration of Russia and China can be considered as an alternative proposal on the architecture of global security. It is realistic to gather a wide group of developing countries around him who are afraid of unpredictable actions by the United States and the destruction of previous agreements," Kashin said.
The Chinese side is increasingly talking about the need for changes in the system of international relations, said Evgeny Semibratov, Deputy director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts at the RUDN University. According to him, Putin's trip to China may become one of the most important geopolitical events of 2026, as the parties will confirm their readiness to promote a multipolar world.
Putin and Trump's visit — differences
The arrival of the Russian president in the Chinese media is described as a confirmation of the strategic partnership between Russia and China, as opposed to the ties between Beijing and Washington. The previous visit by the head of the White House was presented mainly as an attempt to stabilize relations between the two largest economies. However, it turned out to be crumpled, with unclear results, Semibratov believes. In terms of achieving specific goals, it can even be assessed as unsuccessful, despite the assurances of the American.
Representatives of Washington and Beijing discussed the trade agenda, including the access of American agricultural products to the Chinese market, and reducing tensions created by the insane US tariff policy. In 2026-2028, China agreed to purchase at least $17 billion worth of American agricultural products annually and restore access to hundreds of beef suppliers from the United States. At the same time, on key political issues — Taiwan, Iran and Ukraine — the parties limited themselves to exchanging positions, without publicly announced breakthrough agreements.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping
In Chinese social networks and media, Trump's visit was primarily associated with unresolved issues. As noted by the WhatsOnWeibo portal, this trip generated a lot of memes and discussions, and Trump himself was perceived rather as a rival with whom Beijing was "forced" to negotiate pragmatically and cautiously.
However, despite the different attitudes towards the two visits, the media agree on the main point: it is the US—China—Russia triangle that will largely determine the future format of international relations.
— The configuration of forces has actually been formed. But none of the countries is interested in officially defining modern international relations as a "world of three superpowers." This would cause unnecessary analogies with the Cold War period," Semibratov stressed.
At the same time, such a balance of power is beneficial for China. Beijing maintains strategic cooperation with Moscow and builds cooperation with Washington.
It is also worth considering that the United States is increasingly moving away from Europe under Trump, and Europe is moving away from the United States. Tariff disputes, pressure on European leaders, and disagreements over Ukraine, Iran, and NATO are increasing tensions in transatlantic relations and making the European Union a separate but extremely weak actor in international politics.
Formally, Brussels remains a participant in Western politics, especially on Ukraine and sanctions, but key security issues are increasingly tied to the decisions of Washington, Moscow and Beijing. Moreover, under Trump, the United States is less and less coordinating its policy with its European counterparts.
— Here it is worth recalling the concept of the "four policemen" — the idea of Roosevelt during the Second World War: the world after the war was to be led by four powers (USA, USSR, Great Britain and China) as a "global police force," and it was from this logic that the UN Security Council grew. Today, the world is much more complicated. But I would like to believe that by the end of this period, an even more stable and reliable security architecture will be formed," Alexei Vagin, a political scientist and lecturer at the Higher School of Economics, told Izvestia.
In his opinion, there are prerequisites for this. After each period of major global conflicts, more reliable and durable institutions were created: from the Westphalian system to the Holy Alliance and further from the League of Nations to the UN, the expert explained.
Will Putin, Trump and Xi meet at the APEC summit in China
The next major political event may be the APEC summit in November 2026. The leaders' meeting at the economic forum will be held in Shenzhen. By the way, this city was chosen as a symbol of Chinese technological and economic development.
Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has already announced that Vladimir Putin plans to visit Shenzhen on the dates of the summit, that is, November 18-19. The topic of participation in the forum is also raised by the American side. After his visit to Beijing, Donald Trump hinted that he could meet with Xi Jinping four times in 2026.
— This platform is more than in demand for building a pragmatic dialogue between such major economies as Russia, China and the United States. All that is needed is political will and readiness for an equal dialogue without a hidden agenda," Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador—at-Large Marat Berdyev told Izvestia.
According to him, APEC is a key platform for economic cooperation in the entire Asia-Pacific region.
— China, as the chairman of the forum, has already formulated the task of building a society of universal prosperity in the Asia—Pacific region based on the principles of openness, innovation and cooperation. It is important that this positive momentum is picked up by all members of the forum, including the Americans," the diplomat said.
In this scenario, Berdyev believes, the summit in Shenzhen could yield breakthrough results. If both Putin and Trump attend, China will have the opportunity to organize the next contact between the Russian and American leaders on its territory after Alaska. For Beijing, this would be a strong diplomatic move that would consolidate the role of one of the central intermediaries and even creators in world politics. However, such a meeting remains at the level of hypotheses: Moscow and Washington can hold talks without Beijing's help.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's press conference following the Alaska summit
The problem is that Moscow and Washington do not have a ready-made agreement that they could discuss, Kashin stressed.
— The United States is either unable or unwilling to ensure that Kiev fulfills the terms of the Anchorage agreements. As long as this is the case, China's position will not be decisive," he added.
That is why the negotiations in Beijing are important not only for Russia and China. They show that the future structure of international relations will increasingly be discussed in the Russia—China—USA triangle. If the APEC summit in November really brings Putin, Xi, and Trump together, it will give a powerful boost to this so-far unusual but promising political trio.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
