Russian President Vladimir Putin has touched down in Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart and his “dear friend” Xi Jinping, as they aim to strengthen relations days after a visit by US President Donald Trump.
Mr Putin landed about 11:15 pm local time (1:15am AEST) and was greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a military band.
The two smiled as they shook hands, before walking the red carpet side by side as young people waved Russian and Chinese flags.
China and Russia have cast Mr Putin’s two-day trip this week, which is his 25th visit to China, as further evidence of their “all-weather” partnership.
That is despite Western countries urging Beijing to pressure Moscow into ending its war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi walk past guards of honour during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing. (Reuters: Sputnik/Vladimir Smirnov/Pool )
In a video message released on Tuesday, Mr Putin said relations had reached “a truly unprecedented level” and that “trade between Russia and China continues to grow”.
“The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilising role globally,” Mr Putin said in the message.
“Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity.”
By hosting foreign leaders, China is seeking to strengthen its image as a pillar of global stability, in contrast to US struggles to end the war in Ukraine and its conflict with Iran that has disrupted global energy flows.
Mr Putin’s visit follows US President Donald Trump’s trip last week, which generated positive optics but few major commercial agreements.
Despite the Kremlin being adamant there was “no correlation” between the visits, with this one planned to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship, it was not confirmed until hours after Mr Trump wrapped up his visit.
Mr Putin and Mr Xi are set to discuss how to “further strengthen” Russia and China’s strategic partnership and “exchange views on key international and regional issues”, according to a Kremlin statement.
Ukraine war has strengthened Russia-China relations
Their ties have deepened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Mr Putin visiting Beijing every year since as his country is diplomatically cut off on the world stage.
Mr Putin last visited China in September to meet with Mr Xi, attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tianjin and watch a military parade honouring the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met in Beijing last September. (Reuters: Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool)
At the time, Mr Xi called his counterpart an “old friend” while Mr Putin addressed Mr Xi as “dear friend.”
In China, “old friend” is a rare diplomatic term used by the government and party to describe favoured foreigners.
While Beijing has regularly called for talks to end the war in Ukraine, it presents itself as a peace mediator and a neutral party in the conflict.
Mr Trump and Mr Xi discussed Ukraine last week but the US president left China without a breakthrough.
Mr Trump has denied media reports that Mr Xi told him Mr Putin might end up regretting his invasion of Ukraine.
“No, he never said that,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.
China and Russia’s relationship is far from equal, with Moscow heavily dependent economically on Beijing, the main buyer of sanctioned Russian oil.
Among topics the two leaders are expected to discuss is the construction of the major “Power of Siberia 2” natural gas pipeline from Russia to China through Mongolia, a land alternative to crude imported by sea from the Middle East, which Moscow is keen to get underway.
In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Bejing and met with Mr Xi, who described the bilateral relationship as “precious” in the current international context.
Mr Xi said China and Russia needed to strengthen and defend their shared interests.
The two leaders exchanged “congratulatory letters” on Sunday to mark 30 years of their countries’ strategic partnership and are expected to sign a joint declaration after this week’s talks.
Reuters/AP
