President Vladimir Putin has detailed the deep economic symbiosis between Russia and China, describing their partnership as “unprecedented” and a model for a new era of international cooperation. Speaking before the SCO Summit, he highlighted the tangible successes that underpin their powerful geopolitical alliance.
The most striking evidence, Putin noted, is the explosive growth in trade, which has expanded by approximately $100 billion since 2021. This has made China “by far Russia’s leading partner.” A key feature of this relationship is their joint move to de-dollarize, with Putin confirming that nearly all bilateral trade is now settled in rubles and yuan, a direct challenge to US financial hegemony.
This economic integration goes beyond trade figures. Putin emphasized a shared commitment to dismantling remaining trade barriers and mobilizing resources for major joint infrastructure projects. This long-term strategy aims to physically and economically knit their territories together, creating a resilient and self-sufficient Eurasian economic zone.
This robust partnership serves as the engine for Putin’s broader geopolitical ambitions. At the SCO summit, he will present this successful model of economic cooperation as the foundation upon which a “fairer, multipolar world” can be built, offering other nations a path to development free from the “discriminatory” pressures of the West.