Russian Prime Minister Mishustin Reaffirms Strong Ties with China Following US-China Summit

High-Level Meetings in Hangzhou and Beijing

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin undertook a two-day official visit to China from November 3-4, 2025, aimed at strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. His itinerary included significant meetings with both Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

On Monday, November 3, Mishustin participated in the 30th regular meeting of the heads of government with Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou. Discussions centered on enhancing trade and economic cooperation, bolstering the energy partnership, and expanding collaboration across various sectors. The Russian government highlighted the 'very great importance' of the visit, emphasizing Moscow's continued pivot towards Beijing amid Western sanctions.

The following day, Tuesday, November 4, Prime Minister Mishustin met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. President Xi affirmed that 'safeguarding, consolidating and advancing the relationship is a strategic choice for both sides,' underscoring Beijing's commitment to Moscow despite a 'turbulent and challenging external environment.'

Agreements and Areas of Expanded Cooperation

The high-level discussions yielded several concrete agreements and commitments to deepen cooperation. Both sides agreed to expand collaboration on:

• Local currency settlement
• Lunar exploration
• Customs services
• Air traffic
• Preventing illegal cross-border movement of nuclear materials
• A Russian-Chinese roadmap for satellite navigation for 2026-2030

A notable outcome was the signing of a memorandum to train specialists for navigation in polar waters, specifically for the Northern Sea Route, reflecting a shared commitment to developing commercial shipping and strengthening human resources in this critical area. Mishustin also noted that bilateral trade is now conducted almost entirely in their national currencies, with the share of the dollar and euro at 'the level of statistical error.'

Economic Context and Recent Trade Trends

The visit took place against a backdrop of evolving economic dynamics between Russia and China. While China remains the Russian Federation's largest trading partner, recent data indicates a shift. Bilateral trade reached a record high of approximately US$245 billion in 2024. However, trade between the two countries is projected to decline in 2025 for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In the first nine months of 2025, trade reportedly declined by 9.4% year-on-year, totaling $163.62 billion. This downturn is attributed to factors such as sanctions pressure, weak domestic demand in China, and the saturation of the Russian market with Chinese products. Chinese exports to Russia also saw a significant drop of 21% year-on-year in September. Overall, 2025 bilateral trade is estimated to have contracted by about 10%, partly due to US pressure on China regarding its commercial and technological links with Moscow.

Geopolitical Context: Post-US-China Summit

Mishustin's visit to China occurred just days after a significant US-China summit aimed at easing tensions. On October 30, 2025, US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. This summit resulted in a temporary trade truce, which included the US agreeing to reduce fentanyl-related tariff rates and suspend port fees, while China pledged to pause export restrictions on rare-earth minerals and resume large-scale purchases of American agricultural goods. Despite this temporary reprieve, analysts suggest that underlying structural tensions in the US-China relationship persist. The timing of Mishustin's visit underscores the ongoing strategic alignment between Russia and China, positioning their partnership as a counterweight to Western influence and challenges.