China and Russia
The partnership between China and Russia combines political coordination, trade, energy and educational exchanges. Its importance lies in the breadth of their shared mechanisms and their influence on the international order.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-06 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 1,630,800 M CNY | 2025 · NBS China |
| Goods: China to Russia | 738,400 M CNY | 2025 · NBS China |
| Goods: Russia to China | 892,400 M CNY | 2025 · NBS China |
| Services trade | 9,217 M USDOECD–WTO est. | 2024 · OECD–WTO |
| Export share: China to Russia | 2.7 % | 2025 · NBS China |
| Export share: Russia to China | ||
| Investment stock: China in Russia | ||
| Investment stock: Russia in China |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · National Bureau of Statistics of China / General Administration of Customs · Goods trade reported by China for calendar year 2025; NBS reproduces customs data. Original amounts in hundreds of millions of yuan are expressed in millions of CNY by multiplying by 100, without conversion to dollars. They are not combined with the partner's reporting or with fiscal years. Figures rounded by the source.
- Goods: China to Russia
- 2025 · National Bureau of Statistics of China / General Administration of Customs · Goods trade reported by China for calendar year 2025; NBS reproduces customs data. Original amounts in hundreds of millions of yuan are expressed in millions of CNY by multiplying by 100, without conversion to dollars. They are not combined with the partner's reporting or with fiscal years. Figures rounded by the source.
- Goods: Russia to China
- 2025 · National Bureau of Statistics of China / General Administration of Customs · Goods trade reported by China for calendar year 2025; NBS reproduces customs data. Original amounts in hundreds of millions of yuan are expressed in millions of CNY by multiplying by 100, without conversion to dollars. They are not combined with the partner's reporting or with fiscal years. Figures rounded by the source.
- Services trade
- 2024 · OECD / World Trade Organization · Balanced Trade in Services (BaTIS) · Official OECD–WTO BaTIS estimate: exports and imports of services from the balanced series, in M USD. The source flags the values as imputed (I). It reconciles mirror information and uses modelling to fill gaps; it is not a direct bilateral observation or evidence of specific transactions. It does not affect the geopolitical classification. Methodology: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/datasets/oecd-balanced-trade-statistics.html
- Export share: China to Russia
- 2025 · National Bureau of Statistics of China / General Administration of Customs · Published share, rounded to one decimal place, of Chinese goods exports destined for the partner in calendar year 2025. Chinese reporting; not an import share or the partner’s export share. Hong Kong and Taiwan have separate rows in the source. For China–India, it does not share the fiscal year used in the Indian figures.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | China | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 19.5 trillion USD2025 · WB | 2.59 trillion USDIMF est.2025 · IMF |
| GDP per capita | 13,861.97 USD2025 · WB | 17,972.12 USDIMF est.2025 · IMF |
| GDP growth | 4.96 %2025 · WB | 1 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 1.4 %2026-09-24 · PBoC | 14 %2026-09-11 · CBR |
| Inflation · annual average | 0.06 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 8.72 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 0.8 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · NBS China | 6.33 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBR |
| Unemployment | 4.62 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 2.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -7.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 99.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 17.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 3.77 %2025 · WB | 1.68 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 1,406,585,0002025 · WB | 143,997,000IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 17,125,190 km²2023 · BM / FAO |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
For Russia, GDP, population and GDP per capita are estimates from the same IMF (WEO) dataset for 2025. The per-capita figure published by the IMF is used, rather than a calculation of our own. The earlier World Bank series could not be reconciled and are not mixed with this dataset. Review: 2026-10-07. IMF data terms of use0
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDChina: 2025 · World BankRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personChina: 2025 · World BankRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP per capita in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)China: 2025 · World BankRussia: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)China: 2026-09-24 · PBoC: 7-day reverse repo · People’s Bank of China · Published: 2026-09-24 · Rate of the official operation consulted, not the mortgage LPR or the PSL lending rate. Subsequent operations with zero volume are not converted into a 0% interest rate.Russia: 2026-09-11 · Bank of Russia policy rate · Bank of Russia
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)China: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World BankRussia: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World Bank
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedChina: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · National Bureau of Statistics of China · Published: 2026-09-09 · National headline year-on-year CPI, not monthly inflation or an annual average.Russia: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Bank of Russia · Published: 2026-09-16 · Year-on-year CPI. The commentary's 6.9% is annualised seasonally adjusted monthly growth and is not used here.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionChina: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Russia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)China: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)China: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPChina: 2025 · World BankRussia: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleChina: 2025 · World BankRussia: 2025 · Population from the WEO series; do not mix with a denominator from another source · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceChina: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAORussia: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAO
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
China to Russia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Cars |
Russia to China
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Natural gas |
Connections between people
The China–Russia Years of Education, launched in May 2026, aim to expand university exchanges and scientific collaboration. This is an announced programme with cooperation objectives, not an observed number of exchange students. This article has no data for the bilateral number of participants. [3]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from China living in Russia | ||
| Residents from Russia living in China | ||
| Study and training: China in RussiaUniversity students; ministry-reported lower bound | More than 56,000 | 2024/25 · Education in Russia |
| Study and training: Russia in ChinaUniversity students; ministry-reported lower bound | More than 21,000 | 2024/25 · Education in Russia |
| Academic stays: China in Russia | ||
| Academic stays: Russia in China | ||
| Travel: China to Russia | ||
| Travel: Russia to China |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
- Study and training: China in Russia
- Statement from Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education for 2024/25. It reports ‘more than’, not exact amounts: the lower bound is preserved. It does not count short exchanges, school education or students participating in OPT in the United States. 2024/25 · Education in Russia
- Study and training: Russia in China
- Statement from Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education for 2024/25. It reports ‘more than’, not exact amounts: the lower bound is preserved. It does not count short exchanges, school education or students participating in OPT in the United States. 2024/25 · Education in Russia
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
A treaty as the institutional foundation
The 2001 Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation provides a lasting framework for the relationship. [1] [2]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-06
Evolution of the bilateral framework
In May 2026, their presidents announced that they would extend it again. The strategic partnership of coordination had reached its thirtieth anniversary: the current rapprochement rests on institutions built before the most recent crises. [1] [2]
Trade scale and investment agreements
Annual trade exceeded 200 billion dollars for the third consecutive year in 2025. China's Ministry of Commerce reported 85.2 billion during January–April 2026, a year-on-year increase of 19.7%. This is a partial period: it is not the annual total and cannot be extrapolated without considering seasonality and subsequent changes. [2] [4]
The same statement reports the entry into force of an updated agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments. Such instruments address legal certainty and investment conditions; their existence does not indicate how much capital has actually been invested or which projects are already producing results. [4]
Energy and cross-border cooperation
The May presidential meeting examined subcommittee reports on energy, trade, investment and cooperation between northeastern China and the Russian Far East. Energy connects supply and demand, while border regions add a logistical and territorial dimension. The monitoring mechanism allows specific projects to be negotiated alongside political statements. [1]
Foreign-policy coordination without an automatic alliance
The leaders signed a statement to strengthen strategic coordination and announced another on a multipolar world. They also identified multilateral forums such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS. China's stated position maintains the principle of non-alliance: this partnership should not be confused with an automatic mutual-defence commitment or agreement on every issue. [1] [2]
Education as a long-term connection
The China–Russia Years of Education were launched on 20 May 2026 to promote university contacts, exchanges and scientific collaboration. The programme involves students and institutions beyond meetings between leaders. Announced goals and actual results are different stages of its development. [3]
Milestones and consequences
- 2001
Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness
The Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness creates a long-term institutional foundation for cooperation between the two states. [1]
- 2026-05-20
Presidential meeting
Announcement of a treaty extension and new cooperation documents. [1]
- 2026-05-20
Years of Education
The bilateral educational-exchange programme begins. [3]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
The trade data are attributed to China's Ministry of Commerce through Xinhua. The 2025 total is expressed as a threshold, not an exact figure; the 2026 data cover only four months.
- President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China · Institutional source · Document: 2026-05-20 · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin Meet the Press_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China · Institutional source · Document: 2026-05-20 · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin Jointly Attend and Address the Opening Ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Education_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China · Institutional source · Document: 2026-05-20 · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- China–Russia trade during January–April 2026
State Council of China / Xinhua · News reporting or analysis · Document: 2026-05-21 · Accessed: 2026-10-06
Additional sources on products and human connections
- Associated Press
2024-03-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-06 · News reporting.