China’s 2026: a year of diplomatic dominance amid east-west peddling, Xi Jinping holds video call with Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping held an extended video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, reinforcing the strength of Sino-Russian ties just weeks before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine on February 24. The nearly 85-minute meeting highlights Xi’s active and high-profile diplomatic year, as China positions itself at the center of global affairs.

In opening remarks, Putin stressed the resilience of the China-Russia alliance, saying, “I would like to once again assure you of firm support for our shared efforts to ensure the sovereignty and security of our countries, our socio-economic welfare and the right to choose our own development path.” He noted that “our partnership in the energy sphere is mutually beneficial and has a truly strategic character,” highlighting cooperation in nuclear energy, industry, and space projects. Putin also called the alliance an “important stabilising factor” amid global turbulence, adding that “any season is springtime in Russia-China relations.”

Xi framed the talks around long-term strategic cooperation, calling for a “grand plan for the development of bilateral ties” and urging both sides to “seize this historic opportunity, maintain close high-level exchanges and strengthen practical cooperation across various fields.” The leaders discussed expanded trade, energy partnerships, high-technology collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges, including China’s visa-free travel arrangement for Russian citizens.

This video call came amid a busy diplomatic period for Xi , who has hosted multiple European leaders in Beijing in recent weeks. The British and Canadian prime ministers visited last month, and the German chancellor is expected later this month. These visits, along with a same-day phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump , highlighted China’s deliberate balancing act , engaging the West while reassuring Moscow of its support.

The contrast is notable: while Trump often seeks headlines and the global spotlight , Xi is quietly commanding international attention through substantive, coordinated diplomacy. He is shaping global discussions, managing multiple relationships, and asserting China’s influence without theatrics, demonstrating a strategic mastery of timing and optics.

Senior Russian and Chinese diplomats met ahead of the call to discuss global security and arms control, signaling closer coordination on strategic matters. The dialogue reflects Beijing’s continued support for Moscow amid Western economic sanctions, even as European leaders urge China to take a firmer stance.

2026 is increasingly being seen as China’s year on the world stage . Through a combination of hosting Western leaders, maintaining a close strategic partnership with Russia, and carefully coordinating international messaging, Xi is projecting China as a central power broker capable of influencing both Eastern and Western global agendas. The video call with Putin not only reaffirmed Sino-Russian solidarity but also symbolized China’s rising diplomatic clout and strategic foresight , establishing Xi’s leadership at the heart of global geopolitics.