Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow last week on a state visit, where he joined President Vladimir Putin in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. The most consequential outcome of the visit was the signing of a new joint statement updating and deepening the China–Russia strategic partnership.

The agreement consolidates the alignment between Beijing and Moscow and sets out a broad, long-term vision for bilateral relations across multiple domains. It links their wartime alliance of the 1940s to a contemporary partnership grounded in shared historical narratives, converging strategic interests, and opposition to what both sides describe as US hegemony.

What follows is an analysis of the main themes of the joint statement, followed by a summary of its contents that retains the original framing and language.

The Partnership Is Structured to Endure
The joint statement outlines wide-ranging coordination and cooperation frameworks across economic, political, military, technological, educational, and cultural spheres—signalling that the relationship has moved beyond ad hoc or tactical engagement. It reflects a deliberate effort to embed bilateral ties within durable mechanisms. The China–Russia partnership is thus shifting from a convergence of interests to a structured relationship designed to endure and withstand external shocks.

It Is Rooted in a Shared Worldview and Historical Narrative
A unifying theme throughout the document is the reinterpretation of World War II and the post-war international order. Both states claim to be co-guardians of the true anti-fascist legacy and co-founders of the UN-centred system, opposing what they describe as Western distortions, unilateralism, and hegemonism. Historical narrative is used as a political resource. Shared memory of war and perceived Western revisionism serve as ideological glue.

It Targets Western Dominance While Avoiding Explicit Military Alliance
The joint statement includes strong language opposing Western “unilateral coercive measures” and “bloc confrontations,” with the United States cast as the primary disruptor of global stability. At the same time, the agreement reaffirms that the partnership “does not target any third party,” avoiding alliance language that might imply mutual defence obligations.

China Is Increasingly the Senior Partner
The structure and content of the statement suggest growing asymmetry in the relationship. China’s global initiatives—the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative—feature prominently, with Russia depicted as embracing and aligning with them. The joint statement reflects China’s expanding leadership role and Russia’s growing reliance on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

It Seeks to Reframe Global Governance Through Multipolar Institutions
China and Russia promote a “fairer” multipolar world and call for reforming institutions such as the UN, WTO, and IMF. At the same time, they seek to elevate forums like BRICS and the SCO, which are framed as legitimate and necessary complements to the existing global order—platforms that reflect civilisational diversity and advance the interests of the Global South.

Domestic Legitimacy and Strategic Stability Are Intertwined
The joint statement reinforces internal narratives of sovereignty, resilience, and historical continuity. Commemorative language around World War II links past resistance to present-day challenges. Cross-support on issues like Taiwan, Ukraine, and internal political stability is designed to shore up regime legitimacy and fend off foreign pressure. The partnership is thus calibrated to serve both external strategy and domestic political needs.

Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation in the New Era on the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, and the Founding of the United Nations

中华人民共和国和俄罗斯联邦在纪念中国人民抗日战争、苏联伟大卫国战争胜利和联合国成立80周年之际关于进一步深化中俄新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系的联合声明

Table of Contents

Section I – Historical Legacy and World War II Commemoration
Section II – Bilateral Relations and Mutual Support
Section III – Economic Cooperation
Section IV – Cultural and People-to-People Exchange
Section V – Global Order and Governance
Section VI – Multilateral Institutions and Regional Platforms
Section VII – Global Economic Order and Trade Rules
Section VIII – Strategic Stability and Security Governance
Section IX – Regional Security and Geopolitical Alignments
Section X – International and Regional Affairs

Section I: Historical Legacy and World War II Commemoration

• Commemorating World War II Victory: Mark the 80th anniversary of the victories in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the World Anti-Fascist War, and the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.
• Roles in World War II: Emphasise that China and the Soviet Union were the main theatres of war in Asia and Europe, respectively. Both are central forces against fascism and militarism, having suffered great losses, aided each other, made enormous sacrifices, and played pivotal roles in safeguarding human dignity and rebuilding global peace.
• Condemnation of Fascism and Militarism: Declare that the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism represented the failure of inhumane ideologies aimed at dominating the world and suppressing cultures, identities, and values.
• Shared Responsibility for History: Affirm a joint commitment to defending the correct interpretation of World War II history. Calls for remembrance of the victims, honouring of veterans and civilians, and patriotic education of younger generations.
• Defending World War II Outcomes: Vow to protect the legacy of the war and reject any attempt to distort history, downplay the contributions of China and Russia, or vilify the image of the liberators. Condemns the desecration or destruction of World War II memorials.
• Preventing the Resurgence of Extremism: Oppose any revival of Nazism, militarism, or racial supremacy ideologies. Commits to countering neo-Nazism, historical revisionism, and all forms of racism and xenophobia.
• International Tribunals: Urge the international community to uphold the principles of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials, describing their rulings as foundational to international law and irrefutable evidence of the atrocities committed by the Axis powers.
• Genocide Recognition: Russia highlights that the mass killings and expulsions of Soviet civilians during the war constituted genocide, as recognised by the Nuremberg Tribunal.
• Lessons for Japan: Urge the Japanese government to face its wartime past honestly, refrain from historical revisionism, and fully sever ties with militarism, including distancing itself from symbols like the Yasukuni Shrine.
• Joint Commemorations: Pledge to hold joint remembrance and educational events, continue uncovering evidence of fascist and militarist crimes, and reinforce the importance of the Asian front in Japan’s defeat.
• Preventing Future Tragedies: Assert that remembering the causes and horrors of World War II is necessary to prevent future wars. Affirms that China and Russia will stand for international justice and the post-war order, and cooperate with other peace-loving nations to build a better future.

Section II: Bilateral Relations and Mutual Support

• Foundation of Friendship: Assert that the wartime camaraderie forged during the anti-fascist struggle laid the foundation for today’s comprehensive strategic partnership.
• High-Level Relations: Declare that China–Russia relations are at their historical high point—stable, comprehensive, and exemplary of a new model for major power and neighbourly relations.
• Guiding Principles: Reaffirm commitment to the 2001 Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and related agreements, upholding lasting good-neighbourliness, strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
• Strategic Value: Describe the bilateral relationship as uniquely strategic and internally resilient—“not targeting any third party, nor subject to any third party.”
• Responding to Challenges: Commit to strategic patience and mutual prioritisation amidst global turbulence, resisting external attempts to disrupt bilateral trust or interfere in domestic affairs.
• Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity: Both sides firmly support each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability, and oppose external interference in internal affairs.
• Taiwan: Russia reaffirms its support for the One China principle, stating Taiwan is an inalienable part of the PRC and opposing all forms of “Taiwan independence.”
• Russia’s Stability: China reaffirms support for Russia’s sovereignty and internal stability, opposing foreign interference in its affairs.
• Leadership Diplomacy: Highlight head-of-state diplomacy as the anchor of the relationship, with a commitment to sustained high-level exchanges and coordination among government, legislative, and party bodies.
• Military Cooperation: Reaffirm the importance of close military ties for safeguarding sovereignty and responding to both traditional and non-traditional threats. Commits to expanding joint exercises, maritime and air patrols, and military-technical cooperation.
• War Memorials: Russia acknowledges China’s efforts to maintain Soviet war memorials in China and both sides agrees to continue cooperation on war remembrance and related legal protections.

Section III: Economic Cooperation