Following Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s three-day visit to Beijing last week, the future of Russia-China relations looks unprecedentedly bright.

The trip included the 14th regular Chinese-Russian prime ministers’ meeting between Putin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on October 13. The meeting saw the signing of 12 agreements on such issues as natural gas, oil, transportation, aerospace, nuclear energy and customs clearance.

“China-Russia relations have reached a historic high and are marching towards a higher level,” Wen said.

In addition to the commercial pacts totaling $3.5 billion in value, the framework was set for a mammoth energy deal to send natural gas from west Siberia and offshore Sakhalin fields to China. Signed by Russian energy giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation, the pipeline agreement could supply China with 70 billion cubic meters of gas each year. This amount represents 85 percent of the gas China currently uses, and would boost China to the position of Russia’s single biggest natural gas customer.

The two countries also agreed on the establishment of culture centers reciprocally, and to step up thier cooperation in student exchange programs, tourism, sports and entertainment.

During the visit, Putin and Wen celebrated the success of reciprocal language efforts between the two nations. The Year of Russian Language in China in 2009 and the Year of Chinese Language in Russia in 2010 are aimed at enhancing bilateral cultural cooperation between them.

“Russia-China cooperation is one of the most important cornerstones of the world stability,” said Prime Minister Putin in an interview with reporters in Beijing.

On October 14, the final day of his visit, Putin met again with President Hu, who spoke highly of the quickly developing Sino-Russian relationship.

Demonstrating the unprecedented levels of strategic mutual trust, the two countries also signed a pact to notify each other of any ballistic missile or carrier rocket launches.

In the wake of the global economic downturn, Russia is also looking to China’s one-party political model to see what it can learn from it.

Since bilateral diplomatic relations were first forged 60 years ago, ties between Russia and China have been growing. The enactment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination in 1996 accelerated the process, and Bible prophecy tells us the momentum will continue to build.

As early as 1934, educator Herbert W. Armstrong forecast an alliance between Russia and China. In the Plain Truth magazine, he wrote, “Scripture prophesies two great military powers to arise in the last days—one the revival of the Roman Empire by a federation of 10 nations in the territory of the ancient Roman Empire; the other … Russia, with her allies … possibly China or Japan.”

He continued to proclaim this message as the Communist Party took over China. He clung to the prediction even as Russia and China broke off relations in 1964.

Since Mr. Armstrong died in 1986, geopolitics have undergone great changes. The ussr has fallen and been replaced by Vladimir Putin’s Russia, emboldened by its central role in global energy politics. China has developed into an economic and even military powerhouse.

As Russia and China each grow in power, the significance of Mr. Armstrong’s forecasts is increasingly clear. As Putin said during his visit, “Such attention, from the public in our two countries and the international community, is not accidental, because Russian-Chinese relations are an important factor in global affairs.”

Russia and China are now close allies, and the world is taking notice.

To understand how Mr. Armstrong was able to make such accurate early predictions, read Russia and China in Prophecy.