A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
中俄会晤 2026：30 年的伙伴关系
The 2026 China-Russia Summit: 30 Years of Partnership
About this story
The 2026 China-Russia Summit: 30 Years of Partnership. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 7 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 12 key vocabulary words such as 合作、支持、国家 and walks through 4 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
On May 19, 2026,
Russian President Putin's special plane
landed in Beijing.
This was a state visit.
The dates were May 19 to 20.
A state visit
is, between two countries,
the highest-level kind of official exchange.
For Putin,
coming to China is actually nothing new.
This time
was his 25th visit to China.
25 times.
This number itself
shows the density of China-Russia relations.
Today let's talk properly
about this China-Russia summit.
First the background.
2026,
for China-Russia relations,
is a year with commemorative meaning.
First,
this year is the 30th anniversary of China and Russia establishing a strategic coordination partnership.
Second,
this year is the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
What is a "treaty"?
A treaty is, between two countries,
formally written down,
signed,
a long-term valid agreement.
In 2001,
China and Russia signed this Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
It wrote down many things:
the two countries won't go to war,
will discuss matters when they arise,
will cooperate in many areas.
At this summit,
the two heads of state agreed unanimously:
this treaty
will continue to be extended.
That is to say,
this agreement from 25 years ago
will keep going forward.
On the morning of May 20,
Xi Jinping and Putin
held talks at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
After the talks,
the two countries signed and issued an important joint statement.
The name is long,
but the core meaning is:
to further strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination,
to deepen good-neighborly and friendly cooperation.
At the same time,
the two countries also witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents.
These documents
cover trade, education, science and technology, and many other areas.
Besides this one,
the two countries also issued another joint statement.
This one
is about "world multipolarity" and "a new type of international relations."
We need to explain these two terms.
"Multipolarity"
means:
the world should not have only one "pole,"
should not be decided by one country.
There should be many centers of power.
This sentence,
to put it bluntly,
is said for America to hear.
China and Russia both believe:
in today's world,
America's power is too great, too concentrated.
They hope the world will become "multipolar."
"A new type of international relations"
means:
between country and country,
there should be mutual respect and equal cooperation,
rather than one country controlling another.
These words
are what China and Russia have been saying for years.
On the evening of May 20,
the two leaders had a tea gathering at the Great Hall of the People.
A "tea gathering"
is a more relaxed way than formal talks.
Sit down,
drink tea,
chat slowly.
This arrangement
is itself a signal:
the two countries want to show
that their relationship is not just a "working relationship,"
but also has "personal friendship."
During the visit,
the two countries also attended the opening ceremony of the "China-Russia Education Year" together.
Putin also met separately
with China's Premier Li Qiang
to talk about trade cooperation.
Up to here,
we've finished covering the content of the summit.
But,
the meaning of this summit
is not just these documents.
I want to make three points.
First point,
about China-Russia relations themselves.
China and Russia, in recent years,
are often described with one word:
"back to back."
It means:
the two countries stand together,
back to back,
neither has to worry about being stabbed from behind by the other.
This kind of relationship
is not an "alliance" in the traditional sense.
China and Russia both emphasize:
we are non-aligned.
That is to say,
we don't sign that kind of treaty where "if one side has trouble,
the other side must send troops."
But on many big matters,
the two countries support each other.
In trade,
China-Russia trade volume
has kept rising in recent years.
Russia sells China oil and natural gas.
China sells Russia cars, machinery, and all kinds of industrial goods.
Especially after the Russia-Ukraine war,
with Russia sanctioned by the West,
China became Russia's most important economic partner.
Second point,
about the "timing" of this summit.
This summit
happened at a special time.
The war between Russia and Ukraine
has been going on for several years.
Russia and Western countries
have very tense relations.
Against this background,
Putin coming to China
and standing together with Xi Jinping
is itself a strong signal:
"I have not been isolated.
"I still have China.
For China,
this matter is more complicated.
On one hand,
China and Russia
really are important partners.
On the other hand,
China also needs to do business with Europe
and with many Western countries.
China has always emphasized:
on the Russia-Ukraine issue,
China is neutral,
China urges peace.
So you'll see
China's official language is very careful:
China-Russia cooperation "does not target any third party."
It means:
the two of us being close
is not in order to deal with someone else.
Third point,
about how we should view this matter.
International news
most easily makes people pick just one side.
Some people see the China-Russia summit
and say:
"Good,
"two big countries together,
"confronting the West.
And some people say:
"China shouldn't get this close to Russia.
But if you want to truly understand international relations,
you have to learn one thing:
between countries,
there are no permanent friends,
and no permanent enemies.
There are only long-term interests.
This sentence
was said by a British statesman two hundred years ago.
It's still true today.
China and Russia are close now
because right now,
standing together is good for both countries.
America and Russia are distant now
also because right now,
their interests conflict.
What will it be like in twenty years?
Nobody knows.
Relations between countries
do change.
Finally,
I want to ask you a question:
If you were the leader of a country,
who would you choose to be friends with?
A country that thinks the same as you?
Or a country that is useful to you?
Think about it.
Okay.
That's all for today.
Talk tomorrow.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇To cooperate, cooperation. The episode's recurring word: 经贸合作, 合作文件, 睦邻友好合作.
To support. 在很多大事上，两国会互相支持 — 'on many big matters, the two countries support each other.'
Country, nation. The episode's basic unit of analysis: 国家和国家之间，没有永远的朋友 — 'between countries, there are no permanent friends.'
Relationship. 中俄关系 — the China-Russia relationship — is the episode's subject from the first line to the last.
Important. The talks produced 一份重要的联合声明; China is Russia's 最重要的经济伙伴 — 'most important economic partner.'
To know. The episode's honest close on the future: 二十年后会怎么样？没有人知道 — 'nobody knows.'
Treaty. Beyond HSK3. The episode defines it: a formally written, signed, long-term agreement between two countries.
A formal statement or declaration. Beyond HSK3. 联合声明 = a joint statement, of which the summit issued two.
Sanctions — punitive economic measures. Beyond HSK3. 俄罗斯被西方制裁 — 'Russia was sanctioned by the West.'
Multipolarity. Beyond HSK3. The episode defines it: the world should not be decided by one country but have 很多个力量中心 — many centers of power.
To form an alliance. Beyond HSK3. China and Russia stress 我们不结盟 — 'we are non-aligned': no treaty forcing one to send troops for the other.
Back to back. Beyond HSK3. The episode's central metaphor: two countries standing back to back, neither fearing a stab from behind.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法什么是"X"? + definition
A teaching move: name a hard term, ask 什么是, then give a plain-language definition. The episode uses it to unpack 条约 for the learner.
什么是"条约"？
条约就是两个国家之间，正式写下来、签了字的、长期有效的约定。
意思是…
意思是 introduces the explanation of a term just mentioned. The episode uses it repeatedly to gloss 多极化 and 新型国际关系.
"多极化"，意思是：世界不应该只有一个"极"。
"新型国际关系"，意思是：国家和国家之间，应该相互尊重、平等合作。
一方面…另一方面…
Presents two sides of a situation. The episode uses it to show China's delicate position: a partner of Russia, yet also trading with the West.
一方面，中国和俄罗斯，确实是重要的伙伴。
另一方面，中国也要和欧洲、和很多西方国家做生意。
没有 A，也没有 B
Stacks two negations to state a sweeping rule. The episode's analytical core: 没有永远的朋友，也没有永远的敌人 — only long-term interests.
没有永远的朋友，也没有永远的敌人。
这种关系，不是传统意义上的"同盟"。
Proper Nouns
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