Russian President Vladimir Putin, alongside his “dear friend” Chinese President Xi Jinping, praised the duo’s “unprecedentedly high” ties as tensions with the U.S. and Europe persist due to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The meeting in Beijing further solidified the growing alliance between the countries following Putin’s 2022 invasion and occurred just one day before a significant military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion.

But it is not only the Kremlin and the Chinese Communist Party looking to unite in a show of opposition to the West.

While North Korea is not a member of the SCO – a nine-member intercontinental group increasingly viewed as anti-Western and which includes China, Iran and Russia – Kim’s growing ties with Putin have led to speculation about a potential trilateral agreement involving China. 

Xi underscored the increasing attention towards international groups like SCO or BRICS – another group also featuring Russia and China – in his Monday remarks, stating, “We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics.” 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the summit as “performative” and again called out China and India – which also sits in both SCO and BRICS – as “bad actors” over their continued status as top purchasers of Russian fossil fuels.

But a new natural gas agreement reached by Putin and Xi on Tuesday suggests that China has no plans to reduce trade with Russia despite Trump’s immense tariff threats, which could come into effect if a trade deal is not reached between Washington and Beijing come November.