Russia intensified its energy and political rapprochement with China amid growing global tensions, offering to increase the supply of oil and gas to the Asian giant in the face of possible interruptions resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.
The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his official visit to Beijing, where he held meetings with the totalitarian Xi Jinping.According to statements collected by Russian agencies, Moscow is in a position to compensate for any energy deficit faced by China, as well as other countries interested in maintaining “egalitarian and mutually beneficial” relations. The supply comes in a context of increasing volatility in energy markets, driven by the war in the Middle East and tensions between
global powers.The strengthening of ties between Russia and China comes after the definitive break between Moscow and Europe, following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the Kremlin has reoriented its hydrocarbon exports to Asia. Currently, China and India absorb up to 90% of Russian crude oil, consolidating themselves as Moscow's main energy partners
.
During the meeting in Beijing, Xi said that the bilateral relationship is “unbreakable” and stressed the need to deepen strategic cooperation. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to defending common interests in the face of what they consider to be external pressures, in particular from the United States
.In parallel, the Kremlin confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit China in the coming months, possibly during the week of May 18, although official dates have not yet been announced. The visit would coincide with a key moment on the international agenda, as US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to meet with Xi in Beijing on May 14 and 15
