Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing for high-level talks less than a week after hosting President Donald Trump at the same location.
The timing of the visit drew international attention because Putin’s arrival came shortly after Trump’s summit with Xi, where the U.S. and Chinese leaders discussed trade, investment, Taiwan, Iran and broader global security issues.
Xi greeted Putin with a formal ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday morning. Chinese soldiers stood in formation while a military band played the Russian and Chinese national anthems.
Children waving Russian and Chinese flags also greeted the leaders before they entered the Great Hall for talks.
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The scene was similar to the welcome ceremony held for Trump during his recent Beijing visit, making the optics of Putin’s meeting with Xi especially important for analysts watching China’s diplomatic messaging.
Xi and Putin first held a smaller meeting with fewer delegates, likely focused on sensitive issues. The two leaders later moved into a broader meeting with their full delegations.
After the talks, the two sides attended a signing ceremony involving several agreements covering technology, trade, scientific research and intellectual property.
Chinese state media reported that one of the documents extended the China-Russia treaty of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation, which was first signed 25 years ago.
Following the signing ceremony, Xi said relations between China and Russia had reached the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership. He also called on both countries to oppose what he described as unilateral bullying in international affairs.
Xi warned that the world risked returning to a law of the jungle environment and said further hostilities in the Middle East were inadvisable. He also called for a comprehensive ceasefire, according to Chinese state media.
Putin praised the relationship between Moscow and Beijing, saying ties had reached an unprecedentedly high level. He also emphasized that Russia remains a reliable energy supplier during the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Trade and energy are expected to remain central to Russia’s priorities as Moscow continues dealing with sanctions and the heavy economic cost of the war in Ukraine.
China is Russia’s largest trading partner and buys a major share of Moscow’s oil exports, giving Beijing significant influence over Russia’s wartime economy.
Unlike the tense relationship between Washington and Beijing, Xi and Putin have presented their partnership as warm and strategic. Both leaders have repeatedly described each other as close friends.
The timing of the summit is likely to be closely analyzed because it came so soon after Trump’s visit to China.
The optics suggest Xi is attempting to balance relationships with both Washington and Moscow while positioning Beijing as a central player in global diplomacy.
At the same time, China’s commerce ministry confirmed plans to purchase 200 Boeing jets and seek an extension of a trade agreement with the United States, showing that Beijing is still pursuing economic engagement with Washington even as it deepens ties with Russia.
The meeting also raised speculation about a possible future meeting between Putin and Trump, with Russian officials not ruling out the possibility of talks later this year during the APEC summit in China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to strengthen ties and revive stalled energy talks, just days after Xi hosted US President Donald Trump: https://t.co/gAwzm1TGD8 pic.twitter.com/z2KtJY0YFj
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