Putin and Xi Set Bilateral Meeting at APEC as Moscow and Beijing Talk Up Asia‑Pacific Role
The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit, while China calls the gathering crucial for Asia‑Pacific development. The encounter comes as Russia courts non‑Western partners and leans on China amid sanctions.
Russia and China are preparing another high‑level encounter, with a Kremlin aide confirming that President Vladimir Putin will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the upcoming Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said an agreement has been reached for the leaders to meet on the sidelines of APEC, though the precise time and schedule remain to be determined. China’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the planned talks and described the summit as of crucial importance for the development of the Asia‑Pacific region.
The meeting will take place against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine and extensive Western sanctions. Moscow has been deepening ties with non‑Western partners, seeking markets, diplomatic backing and technology outside traditional Western channels.
One sign of that outreach is Russia’s growing engagement in Africa. The Russian parliament has approved an agreement to strengthen relations with Burkina Faso. The document, signed in Moscow in February 2026 and ratified by the State Duma, sets out principles for ties based on mutual respect for national interests, international law and the UN Charter. It provides for regular dialogue and exchanges of views.
Russian officials and companies are also active at African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, where they have showcased energy technologies and discussed cooperation with African states. At the same event, African countries such as South Africa and Uganda have spoken about efforts to reduce fuel imports and increase the value added to domestic resources, according to officials quoted by Sputnik Africa.
China, for its part, is expanding its own partnerships. During a state visit to China between 12 and 17 October, Botswana’s president Duma Boko visited Huawei’s research institute in Beijing, where the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on digital cooperation. He also met Xi Jinping, and the sides signed an agreement focused on cooperation.
In this context, a bilateral meeting between Putin and Xi at APEC serves both leaders by highlighting that they have alternatives to Western forums and partners. For other Asia‑Pacific economies at the summit, the session will be a measure of how closely Russia and China are coordinating their approach to regional trade, energy and security.
Key points to watch are what the two sides say publicly after the meeting, whether they outline any new agreements or joint positions, and how other APEC members respond to their messaging.
Sources
- OSINT