Timeline

December 1991: China and Russia sign an agreement to maintain their relationship after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the Russian Federation.

December 1992: Russian President Boris Yeltsin makes his first official visit to China.

July 2001: The relationship between the two countries is formalized by the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, a 20-year strategic, economic, and — arguably and controversially — implicit military treaty. May 2014: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin make a joint declaration about establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

May 2015: Xi visits Russia to attend the Victory Day parade. He and Putin discuss coordination between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.

June 2016: Putin pays a state visit to China and makes a joint declaration with Xi to increase mutual support and improve mutual trust, both politically and strategically.