How China became Russia's economic lifeline
Key takeaways
- Hot on the heels of Donald Trump's visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping.
- Although bilateral trade softened last year as a result of lower oil prices, Russia’s goods exports to China have nearly doubled since February 2022, when Moscow's full-scale invasion began.
- In 2024, Russia shipped roughly $129 billion (€111 billion) worth of goods to China — the overwhelming majority in crude oil, coal and natural gas sold at steep discounts.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Hot on the heels of Donald Trump's visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping. DW explores how China's trade and financial support is helping keep Russia's economy afloat.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Dt Ws Beijing’s leverage over Moscow is expected to grow further in the coming years Image: Sergei Bobylev/TASS/ZUMA/picture alliance Advertisement Russia may celebrate its "no-limits" partnership with China — a phrase coined when President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met just before the Ukraine war — yet those relations are increasingly one-sided.
Although bilateral trade softened last year as a result of lower oil prices, Russia’s goods exports to China have nearly doubled since February 2022, when Moscow's full-scale invasion began.