China-Russia bilateral ties: A strategic balance

2026-01-30 - 21:56

DUE to the emergence of a new world (dis-)order, bilateral relations between China and Russia have gained heightened importance, creating a strategic balance both regionally and at the international level. The rule of power is steadily eroding the core of the rules-based world order, making it imperative for both countries to work jointly for the revival of economic globalization, international cooperation, peace, stability, harmony and mutual respect at the global stage. Recently, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin rightly emphasized the need to further enhance strategic coordination with Russia and to support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, vividly reflecting the urgency of protecting shared interests while maintaining strategic balance. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China–Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China–Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. These milestones underscore the importance of China–Russia relations for regional peace and global stability. It is a positive sign that bilateral relations have maintained high-level development with military-to-military exchanges and cooperation at various levels and across multiple fields yielding fruitful results. These efforts have played an important role in maintaining international and regional stability. China will continue to work with Russia to make new contributions to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, consistently injecting positive energy into global security and stability. China–Russia relations appear to have reached a historic high and have become a model of constructive interaction between major powers in the 21st century. It is hoped that in 2026, both countries will celebrate the anniversaries of the treaty and the strategic partnership with renewed commitment, further strengthening bilateral ties. Their mutual respect for sovereignty and shared pursuit of prosperity represent a symbolic milestone, reaching an unprecedented level while continuing to develop in a steady and dynamic manner. Both countries have emerged as a model of constructive interaction among major powers. Moreover, the mutual visa-free travel policy introduced over the past year is another milestone in bilateral relations. It has significantly boosted people-to-people exchanges, with immediate positive effects reflected in tourism data. Visa-free travel will not only promote tourism but also deepen societal exchanges and open broader prospects for strengthening bilateral ties. The rapidly changing global geopolitical landscape highlights the crucial role of China and Russia in advocating a truly multipolar world. Their strategic coordination serves as a stabilizing factor in global politics. In the Ukraine crisis, China has consistently called on all stakeholders to create suitable conditions for a sustainable and peaceful settlement rather than escalating tensions, maintaining a prudent and constructively neutral position. On its part, Russia respects China’s core interests, including its stance on the Taiwan question and has repeatedly urged Japan to halt remilitarization and return to the genuine pacifism enshrined in its constitution. Additionally, China and Russia have agreed to fully implement the important consensus reached between their heads of state on strategic security and to advance bilateral strategic coordination toward higher quality. In 2025, a meeting between Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, further strengthened the strategic partnership. Both sides engaged in comprehensive and in-depth discussions on major issues related to their strategic security interests, reached new consensus and enhanced mutual trust. Wang Yi appreciated the high-level development of China–Russia relations, noting that President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin met twice in 2025—once in Moscow and once in Beijing—providing strategic guidance for steady bilateral relations amid a complex and evolving international environment. He emphasized the need to further consolidate strategic mutual trust, deepen good-neighborly friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation to support economic development and national rejuvenation, jointly address emerging threats and safeguard global fairness, justice, peace and stability. Wang described the China–Russia strategic security consultation mechanism as an important channel for in-depth communication on international security and strategic stability as well as a vital platform for safeguarding the core interests of both sides. Over the past two decades, this mechanism has played an active role in implementing the consensus of the two heads of state, supporting strategic decision-making and strengthening political trust. He urged both sides to make full use of the mechanism, enhance strategic coordination and jointly respond to external challenges. Shoigu, in turn, stressed that strengthening strategic alignment is essential amid complex geopolitical changes and growing global security challenges. He noted that China–Russia coordination has reached an unprecedented level, aligning with national interests and benefiting regional and global peace. He reaffirmed Russia’s adherence to the One-China principle and its strong support for China’s positions on Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Russia, he added, stands ready to work with China to implement the consensus reached by their leaders and promote a more just and reasonable multipolar world order. In conclusion, China and Russia have achieved a high degree of consensus on strategic alignment, including issues related to Japan. They agreed to uphold the outcomes of World War II, oppose any attempts to whitewash colonial aggression. As major powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia share a responsibility to safeguard world peace, historical truth and international justice. —The writer is President, the Centre for Knowledge and Public Policy, Regional Expert: China, CPEC, BRI & World Affairs. mehmoodulhassankhan7@gmail.com