Sustained China-Russia coordination anchors global stability

Editor's note: Li Yonghui, a special commentator for CGTN, is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Against the backdrop of transformations unseen in a century and mounting uncertainties in the global political and economic landscape, Russian President Vladimir Putin is to embark on his 25th visit to China on May 19. China-Russia strategic coordination, which is at an unprecedentedly high level, has increasingly been regarded as an important force for safeguarding world stability. This underscores both the significance and the growing global influence of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

This year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period (2026-2030). It also coincides with 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. Moreover, 2026-2027 are designated as the China-Russia Years of Education.

At the intersection of these major historical milestones, the strategic guidance of the two heads of state has not only charted a new course for bilateral ties, but also, through close strategic coordination and a shared sense of major-county responsibility, served as an anchor in an increasingly turbulent world and a steady source of certainty for the international community.

Thirty years of steady and sustained progress

China-Russia relations have remained resilient and stable amid profound changes in the international landscape because the two countries have forged a new model of major-country relations that transcends cold-war thinking and accords with the trend of the times.The vitality of this relationship is grounded in both the historical evolution of bilateral ties and the converging strategic interests shared by the two countries.

First, the two sides have established the fundamental principles governing a new type of state-to-state relationship.

Thirty years ago, China and Russia established their strategic partnership of coordination; 25 years ago, the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation was signed, enshrining the principle of "ever-lasting friendship and never becoming enemies"and institutionalizing good-neighborly relations through legal and institutional frameworks.

Notably, at the core of the China-Russia relationship lies the commitment to "non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party." This differs fundamentally from the political and military alliances of the Cold War era: It is not forged around confrontation with a common external adversary, therefore avoiding the trap of zero-sum rivalry. Nor does it interfere in the other's internal affairs; instead, it fully respects each other's independently chosen path of development.

By rejecting power politics, such a model of major-country ties has removed the potential risk of strategic confrontation between two major neighboring states, thereby laying a cornerstone for security across Eurasia and beyond.

Second, head-of-state diplomacy has played a pivotal guiding role. The steady and long-term development of major-country relations depends on top-level strategic planning and leadership.

Over the years, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin have built a high degree of political mutual trust and maintained close working relations. Head-of-state diplomacy has not only provided strategic direction for bilateral ties at critical junctures, but has also demonstrated strategic resolve and the depth of mutual trust in the face of external pressure.

The convergence of multiple key milestones this year results in the meeting of the heads of state not only to be a comprehensive review of the achievements of the past three decades, but also a strategic planning for maintaining bilateral relations at a high level in the decades ahead.

New opportunities for practical cooperation through strategic alignment

As China enters the opening year of its 15th FYP period, it is advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development while fostering a new development paradigm through a high-standard of opening up. Meanwhile, Russia is pressing ahead with economic transformation and its Far East development strategy.

This spells the high complementarity of the two countries' national development strategies. Meanwhile, bilateral practical cooperation is shifting from an emphasis on expansion in scale toward higher-quality and more in-depth development.

First, the stabilizing role of traditional sectors continues to strengthen.

Energy and infrastructure construction remain the traditional pillars of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation. Collaboration in oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy is not only vast in scale, but also increasingly integrated across the entire industrial chain. This cooperation helps secure the energy resources needed for China's modernization drive while providing Russia with a stable and long-term export market, thereby forming a shared cornerstone of economic security for both countries.

Meanwhile, enhanced connectivity provides a vital foundation for aligning the economic development strategies of the two countries. As cross-border bridges, logistics corridors and port infrastructure continue to improve, trans-Eurasian logistics efficiency has steadily increased, reducing both institutional and physical costs associated with cross-border trade.

Second, cooperation in emerging sectors is expanding rapidly.

Against the backdrop of the 15th FYP, Sino-Russian practical cooperation is extending into hi-tech and high-value-added industries. The development of the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce has accelerated, while the rapid adoption of digital logistics systems, cross-border e-commerce platforms and electronic payment networks have facilitated trade exchanges between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both countries.

Cooperation in green and low-carbon development, as well as scientific and technological innovation, has also entered a fast lane. Across a wide range of sectors such as new energy vehicles, clean energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced materials, research institutions and enterprises from both countries are engaging in joint technological research and industrial collaboration, injecting sustained new growth drivers into bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Third, people-to-people and educational exchanges are laying the groundwork for lasting friendship between the two countries. The launch of the China-Russia Years of Education in 2026 marks another milestone in the history of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Educational cooperation is an investment in the future. Through deeper collaboration in higher education, vocational training, joint talent cultivation and exchanges between young scientists, China and Russia are elevating traditional cultural exchanges into a broader framework of jointly nurturing future generations of talent. This not only prepares skilled professionals for cooperation across various sectors, but also plants the seeds of mutual understanding and friendship among younger generations, ensuring that China-Russia friendship will last for generations.

Major-country responsibility injecting certainty into the world

In an increasingly turbulent world, China-Russia strategic coordination is significant not only for the mutually beneficial outcomes it delivers bilaterally, but also for the stabilizing role it plays across multiple dimensions.

First, the two countries uphold multilateralism and anchor a more just and equitable international order.

Both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia work together on the international stage to safeguard the central role of the United Nations. Both countries are committed to safeguarding the international system with the UN at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, while promoting greater democracy in international relations.

Second, by expanding multilateral platforms, the two countries are working with the Global South to play a greater role in improving global governance.

Beyond close bilateral coordination, China and Russia have actively promoted cooperation mechanisms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), creating platforms for cooperation among developing countries and emerging economies. As BRICS+ and SCO+ cooperation continues to deepen, China and Russia are encouraging these mechanisms to focus on local currency settlements, financial security, transnational supply-chain stability and counter-terrorism cooperation. The goal is to enhance the voice and representation of the Global South in international affairs and to strive for a more just and equitable global governance system.

Last but not least, China and Russia uphold a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, emphasizing the principle of the "indivisibility of security" – namely, that no country should pursue its own security at the expense of another country's security.

On the Ukraine crisis, China has consistently maintained an objective and impartial position and actively promoted peace talks and political dialogue. Russia has highly appreciated China's position on the political settlement of the crisis as well as the Global Security Initiative proposed by China, both of which provide a viable pathway for resolving complex disputes through political means and diplomatic negotiations.

Looking ahead

The three-decade journey of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of coordination has offered profound lessons to a world increasingly marked by turbulence and uncertainty: A new model of major-country relations should be built on mutual respect, equality, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

Through concrete actions, China and Russia have demonstrated that two neighboring nuclear powers can achieve long-term peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation without forming alliances, engaging in confrontation, or pursuing bloc politics.

The democratization of international relations and the advancement of multipolarity represent the broader trajectory of historical development, with China and Russia continuing to provide important momentum for this evolving process. Development remains the key to addressing all the daunting challenges. Regardless of external pressure, both countries have remained focused on domestic development and practical bilateral cooperation, responding to international uncertainty with their own stability and sustained growth.

At the historical intersection of the opening year of China's 15th FYP and the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia partnership, the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries carries not only the aspirations of their peoples for a better life, but also the responsibility of safeguarding world peace.

It is safe to conclude that regardless of how the international landscape may shift in the future, China and Russia will continue to deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and strengthen strategic coordination under the strategic guidance of the heads of state.

The steady and enduring development of China-Russia cooperation constitutes not only a partnership oriented toward the future, but also a historic contribution to global peace and development.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)