Putin arrives in Beijing for two-day official visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing. He has travelled to China for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip coincides with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation.

The visit comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump’s trip to China. The American president arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit last week but did not achieve any major breakthroughs in talks with Xi.

The Kremlin has dismissed speculation that the timing of Putin’s trip is linked to US-China contacts, saying that there is “no connection whatsoever.” Preparations for the visit began shortly after Putin and Xi held a video call in February, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said earlier this week.

The Russian president was met on the tarmac by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as an honor guard and a group of children waving Russian and Chinese flags. Some of the honor guard members drove to the tarmac on motorcycles ahead of the Russian president’s arrival.

The presidential delegation includes senior officials, ministers, and the heads of major Russian companies. Around 40 bilateral documents are expected to be signed during the visit, including a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, according to Ushakov.

Meetings between the two presidents are scheduled for Wednesday. According to Moscow, Putin and Xi will hold both one-on-one and expanded-format talks focused on “the most important and sensitive issues” in bilateral relations, as well as major international developments.