China and Russia signed an updated bilateral investment treaty (BIT) on 8 May 2025, replacing the 2006 BIT. The new BIT includes a provision on investor-state dispute settlement under UNCITRAL arbitration rules, reaffirming both countries’ reliance on arbitration as the primary mechanism for resolving disputes arising from covered investments. It is not clear when the updated BIT will enter into force. However, it is regarded as a strategic instrument which aims to deepen mutual cooperation in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and high-tech manufacturing, while providing Russian and Chinese investors with legal safeguards.