Putin receives red carpet welcome in China for high-stakes meeting with Xi

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as he began a high-profile two-day state visit just days after US President Donald Trump wrapped up high-stakes deliberations in China. Putin was received at the airport by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. Mirroring the grand optics of the reception, Russian state news agency TASS reported that Putin had declared bilateral relations to have scaled “a truly unprecedented level” right before touchdown. Later, Xi welcomed Putin outside the Great Hall of the People, where the two leaders shook hands before walking down a red carpet as a military band played the national anthems of China and Russia. Putin’s visit comes less than a week after Trump concluded a two-day trip to Beijing marked by ceremonial events but no major breakthroughs, including on US efforts to enlist China’s help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the comprehensive itinerary will see President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart engage in extensive deliberations covering bilateral ties, multi-sectoral cooperation, and pressing international and regional matters of shared concern. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun informed a press briefing on Monday that this trip marks Putin's 25th official visit to China. The spokesperson heavily accentuated the profound strategic alignment binding the two powers, alongside the deep personal rapport shared between the heads of state. “The two sides will take this visit as an opportunity to continue to promote the development of China-Russia relations to a higher level, which will inject greater stability and positive energy into the world,” Guo said. According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi will hold a series of talks focused on deepening cooperation and are expected to sign a joint statement. Putin arrived in Beijing weakened by years of war in Ukraine and Western sanctions that have squeezed Russia’s energy revenues, leaving Moscow increasingly dependent on Beijing as its main economic partner. Russia has become a key supplier of oil to China, the world’s largest energy importer, with Moscow seeking to push forward plans for the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline to deliver Russian natural gas to China via Mongolia. In a video message released ahead of his arrival, Putin said relations between Moscow and Beijing had reached a “truly unprecedented level” and described the partnership as a stabilising force globally, without aligning against any third country. China has repeatedly called for talks to end the war in Ukraine while declining to condemn Russia’s military action, presenting itself as a neutral party. Analysts said Xi was likely to brief Putin on his recent talks with Trump, noting that the lack of clear outcomes from the US-China summit was likely to reassure Moscow that no understanding had been reached that would undermine Russian interests.