Middle East: Russia ready to “compensate” for China’s energy deficit

China and Russia affirmed their closeness on Wednesday in the face of the war in the Middle East, and Moscow offered to Beijing to "compensate" for the deficit in energy resources that it would suffer because of the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, currently in Beijing for two days, confirmed a visit to China by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the first half of 2026.

Chinese President Xi Jinping could thus successively receive in the coming weeks his American counterpart Donald Trump, announced in mid-May, and his Russian counterpart, in a period of strong geostrategic tensions.

China and Russia, neighboring countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have close diplomatic and economic relations. They are partners of Iran and rivals of the United States.

A sign of intense diplomatic activity, Sergei Lavrov, received on Wednesday by President Xi, is in Beijing at the same time as a series of other foreign leaders.

All are concerned in various ways by the fallout from the conflict, launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Xi Jinping received Vietnamese President To Lam on Wednesday, whose country is suffering the economic repercussions of the war.

The Chinese president had spoken the day before with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of the main Western voices opposed to the conflict, and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose territory had been targeted in recent weeks by Iranian strikes.

- "Fair way" -

Beijing is closely following the conflict in the Middle East, which is impacting its oil supplies. Iran sent the Asian giant more than 80% of its crude exports before the war, according to the analysis company Kpler.

Furthermore, more than half of Chinese oil imports transported by sea came from the region, according to Kpler.

However, maritime traffic is severely disrupted due to the conflict and the new blockade of Iranian ports launched by the United States, which Beijing judged on Tuesday "dangerous and irresponsible", does not help anything.

"Russia can undoubtedly compensate for the resource deficit that has emerged, both for the People's Republic of China and for all countries willing to work with us in a fair and mutually beneficial way," Sergey Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

China is currently managing to cushion the energy shock thanks to its stocks and the diversification of its supplies, according to analysts. But the situation could change if the conflict lasts.

Mr. Lavrov assured that relations between Russia and China "remain unshakeable in the face of all storms."

“Faced with changes unprecedented in a century, China and Russia must strengthen their cooperation