‘Multipolar world’: What Xi and Putin announced after Beijing summit

Lead

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up a two-day summit in Beijing this week with a sweeping joint declaration and a package of agreements that underline the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries. The centerpiece of the meeting was the signing of a joint declaration on building a "multipolar world and a new type of international relations," a document that both leaders framed as a response to a changing global order and what they describe as the failure of unilateral attempts to control global affairs.

The summit, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership, produced a series of bilateral agreements. Reports on the exact number vary: according to the South China Morning Post, Xi and Putin signed over 20 agreements during the signing ceremony, while Putin later told reporters that over 40 agreements at government and corporate levels were reached during his visit. TASS and Reuters also cited the higher figure of over 40 agreements.

The meeting came after U.S. President Donald Trump visited Beijing for his own summit with Xi — a visit that yielded little in the way of concrete announcements, according to reports. The contrast between the two meetings was not lost on analysts, with one telling reports that the choice was between "pomp and pragmatism."

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the summit varied across outlets. Al Jazeera emphasized the bilateral agreements and the multipolar framing, noting that the declaration was 47 pages long and signified an attempt to reduce US power influence. Dawn, a Pakistani daily, led with the condemnation of the US Golden Dome missile defense system and what was described as Washington's "irresponsible" nuclear policy.

The South China Morning Post, which produced several articles, focused on the scientific and technological cooperation, quoting experts who hope the summit would provide "institutional support" for more collaboration. That outlet also reported the agreements, including on innovation, technology, energy, science and education. TASS, the Russian state news agency, highlighted the joint statement and the convergence of views.

Key Claims

Joint Declaration and "Multipolar World"

At the core of the summit was the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Emergence of a Multipolar World and a New Type of International Relations. According to the Kremlin and Chinese Foreign Ministry officials, the document is a broad statement on the global order, which was described as being in a state of fundamental transformation.

"Attempts by a number of countries to single-handedly direct global affairs, impose their interests on the whole world and restrict the possibilities of other countries to exercise of sovereign development in the spirit of the era of colonialism have failed," the declaration reads, according to TASS. The document also warns that the global situation is becoming more complex and that there is a "threat of returning to the 'law of the jungle.'"

The summit also saw the signing of a separate statement on strengthening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. Both leaders expressed a "high degree of convergence of views on global processes," as reported by Vedomosti, and highlighted their readiness for closer coordination on global and regional issues.

Defense and Nuclear Policy

China and Russia placed a significant part of their joint response on criticizing US defense and nuclear policies, particularly the "Golden Dome" missile defense system initiated by the Trump administration. The joint statement from the two leaders, as reported by Reuters and also in the South China Morning Post, stated that the Golden Dome project — a ground- and space-based interceptor system — "poses a clear threat to strategic stability" and expressed concern that its implementation could have "serious negative consequences for international security."

The condemnation of the Golden Dome project was coupled with criticism of Washington's "irresponsible" nuclear policy, according to Dawn. The statement also took aim at the provocative actions of certain nuclear powers, and included a position on the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which the two leaders said undermine stability in the Middle East, as reported by TASS and Vedomosti. The two sides also agreed to maintain communication on nuclear arms control issues, according to the South China Morning Post.

Agreements and Strategic Partnership

Aside from the geopolitical framing, Xi and Putin presided over the signing of a large package of bilateral agreements. Reports from TASS, Reuters, and South China Morning Post were consistent in reporting the signing of agreements at both governmental and corporate levels, covering energy, trade, innovation, technology, science, and education. The summit also marked the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership, which President Xi referenced in his remarks, calling the ties "at the historical peak" of comprehensive partnership and strategic coordination.

Russia has become increasingly reliant on Chinese technology and manufacturing products in recent years, according to Dawn, and the agreements reflect a deepening of these ties.

Perspectives

US Role and Global Stability

The framing of the summit was heavily influenced by Washington's actions. Both China and Russia framed their cooperation as a reaction to destabilizing policies of the US, particularly the Golden Dome missile shield and what TASS described as "provocative actions of some nuclear powers." The declarations pointed to a world where multilateralism and sovereign equality should replace unipolar control.

Scientific Cooperation

The South China Morning Post highlighted a more optimistic viewpoint, suggesting that scientific collaboration between China and Russia could help stop US isolation and allow the international science community to "return to normalcy." An expert quoted by that outlet expressed hope that the summit would provide institutional support for more scientific cooperation.

Temporal Context

This summit followed a visit by US President Donald Trump to Beijing, which was less productive in terms of concrete agreements. Al Jazeera noted that the Trump visit was about managing tensions, whereas the meeting with Russia was about demonstrating progress in a relationship that both sides have already called "without limits." The summit came as the world watched the evolution of US-China-Russia trilateral relations, with the US heavily focused on managing its rivals.

As the discussions in Beijing drew to a close, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that the two countries would later issue a joint statement advocating for a multipolar world and a new type of international relations, a promise fulfilled by the signing ceremony on Wednesday. The declaration, as described by Kremlin officials, aims to establish a foundation for a future world order that departs from the unipolarism that Moscow and Beijing criticized.