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Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in China for a two-day state visit as the two countries look to further deepen a relationship that has grown closer since Moscow invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
The visit comes days after Russia launched a new offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region and as it claims advances on the 1,000km (600-mile) long front line, where Kyiv’s forces have been hampered by delayed deliveries of weapons and ammunition from the United States.
Broadcast live on state television, Putin’s motorcade of nearly 20 vehicles, escorted by a formation of motorcyclists dressed in ceremonial white uniforms, arrived outside Beijing’s Great Hall of the People at about 11am (03:00 GMT) where the Russian president was met by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The two countries’ anthems were played to the accompaniment of a gun salute, before the two leaders walked along the red carpets that had been laid out in the vast square to review the troops in a welcoming ceremony that lasted nearly half an hour. A group of children lined up next to the orchestra jumped and cheered as Putin and Xi walked past.
In discussions later, Xi greeted Putin as an “old friend”. He told Putin that China and Russia’s relationship had stood the test of time and that they had provided each other with “strategic guidance” in their more than 40 meetings over the past decade.
“China is ready to work with Russia to stay each other’s good neighbour, good friend and good partner,” state news agency Xinhua reported quoting Xi. The two men are expected to continue discussions over tea and a walk in the park, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Putin and Xi declared a “no limits” partnership days before Putin sent his troops into Ukraine in February 2022. In March 2023, when Xi visited Moscow, he described a “new era” in the countries’ relationship, while in October, when Putin last visited Beijing, Xi spoke of the “deep friendship” between the two men.
Before the trip, 71-year-old Putin said his choice of China as his first foreign destination since being sworn in as president for a fifth term underlined the “unprecedentedly high level of the strategic partnership” between the two countries as well as his close friendship with Xi, who is 70.
“We will try to establish closer cooperation in the field of industry and high technology, space and peaceful nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy sources and other innovative sectors,” Putin told Xinhua.
The two leaders will take part in a gala evening to celebrate 75 years since the Soviet Union recognised the People’s Republic of China, declared by Mao Zedong following the communists’ victory in China’s civil war in 1949.
Putin will also visit Harbin in northeastern China, a city with strong ties to Russia.
In his interview with Xinhua, Putin also appeared to give his backing to a 12-point Ukraine peace plan that Beijing released to a lukewarm reception on the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2023.
He said the proposals could provide the basis for discussions and that Moscow was “open to a dialogue on Ukraine”. He reiterated the long-held Russian position that “negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours”.
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