Inside the China-Russia Partnership

Why It Matters

China‑Russia convergence reshapes global geopolitics: a leader‑centric partnership hardens a major geopolitical bloc that can complicate Western policy choices on Ukraine, sanctions and Indo‑Pacific strategy. Understanding this dynamic is critical for anticipating shifts in trade, military posture and diplomatic alignments.

Summary

The Pecking podcast explores the deepening, leader-driven China‑Russia partnership, tracing its normalization from the mid‑1980s to the February 2022 “no limits” declaration and subsequent summits that have intensified strategic alignment after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Guest Sasha Gablv, director of Carnegie’s Russia Eurasia Center, emphasizes the relationship’s pragmatic arc—overcoming historical mistrust and territorial grievances as both capitals prioritize stability and mutual interests. The episode highlights how personal rapport between Xi and Putin, rather than institutional alliance structures, now anchors bilateral cooperation across diplomacy, trade and security. It also outlines Gablv’s background as a Russia‑China specialist and how that perspective informs analysis of evolving ties.

Original Description

China and Russia have transformed a historically fraught relationship into one of the most consequential strategic partnerships in the world. This week on Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Alexander Gabuev, a leading expert on China-Russia ties and director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. They examine how Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have deepened their bilateral and personal ties, what China gains from supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, and where the limits of their “no-limits” partnership may lie. The conversation explores energy, sanctions, leverage, people-to-people ties, and the role of the Xi-Putin relationship in shaping the future of international order.