In Beijing, Dmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and leader of United Russia, met with President Xi Jinping. The event was reported by TASS and framed as a high-level exchange between Moscow and Beijing.
Medvedev delivered a message from the Russian president to Xi, emphasizing the unprecedented depth of Russian-Chinese political dialogue and practical cooperation. The Secretariat of Medvedev noted that Putin trusts in the ongoing, steady expansion of interstate and inter-party ties in close alignment with the new leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, underscoring confidence in a forward-looking bilateral trajectory.
During the talks, the Ukrainian conflict and the situation in the post-Soviet space were among the topics discussed with Xi. The two sides conveyed that Moscow and Beijing share similar approaches to several pressing international issues, and they reviewed the alignment of their strategies on strategic foreign policy coordination across multilateral formats, including the United Nations, the SCO, BRICS, and the G20.
The Secretariat provided limited detail about the full content of Medvedev’s visit. He also extended congratulations to Xi Jinping on the successful culmination of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party and Xi’s re-election as General Secretary, a gesture noted by Chinese officials.
The leaders talked about the future of Russia-China relations and agreed to deepen cooperation between United Russia and the Communist Party of China in line with the shared tasks set by Putin and Xi to advance a comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction across all spheres. The emphasis was on sustaining robust coordination and expanding collaboration on major global and regional priorities.
Xi Jinping remarked that China-Russia relations have endured a decade of international shifts and tests, describing the relationship as consistently stable and healthy at a high level throughout that period.
He stressed that building a comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Beijing and Moscow is a long-term strategic choice, aligned with each country’s national circumstances. Xi also reiterated China’s readiness to advance both bilateral ties and global governance in a fairer and more rational direction.
According to China Central Television, Xi asked Medvedev to convey his warm regards and best wishes to Vladimir Putin. Medvedev was accompanied by Andrei Turchak, secretary of the United Russia General Council and first deputy chairman of the Federation Council, and Vladimir Vasiliev, head of the United Russia faction in the State Duma. The visit occurred on December 20–21, following an invitation from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Medvedev noted that the discussions with Xi covered strategic cooperation across all areas, including the economy and industrial collaboration, and described the Beijing talks as highly constructive.
In an interview with political analyst Sergei Markov of Lentoy.ru, the primary aim of Medvedev’s visit was framed as delivering Putin’s message to China’s leadership. Markov stated that the message did not pass through an ambassador or foreign minister but went directly via Russia’s former president. He suggested the content hinted at Russia’s stance in its broader geopolitical context and the potential implications of China’s neutral posture in relation to Moscow’s operations against its perceived adversaries. He cautioned that the exact details remain unclear and that interpretations are speculative.
The analyst outlined four possible interpretations Putin might have signaled to Xi. First, there is a warning that China could face difficulties should it remain neutral as Russia engages in its conflict with the United States. Second, there may be a suggestion of strengthening military or security assistance. Third, there could be expectations of accelerated economic cooperation and growth. Fourth, there was a consideration of whether China might support even more direct involvement in regional security affairs, potentially including discussions about Korea’s role in the broader conflict dynamics. Markov emphasized that these scenarios are conjectural and reflect broader diplomatic signaling rather than confirmed plans.