Xi and Putin highlight friendship and co-operation in Beijing visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks on his trip to Beijing.
Mr Xi welcomed Mr Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The quick succession of Mr Trump’s and Mr Putin’s visits highlighted Beijing’s growing role as an international superpower, experts say.
Mr Putin greeted Mr Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.
“My dear friend,” Mr Putin said. “We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.”
Mr Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media.
The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Mr Xi at one point describing Mr Putin as his “best and most intimate friend”.
They aere set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.
China became Russia’s top trading partner after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the US and Europe.
China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand.
In his meeting with Mr Xi, Mr Putin stressed their countries’ economic ties.
“The driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector,” Mr Putin said.
“Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources.”
Mr Xi stressed the need of “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East, according to Chinese state media.
“An early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to energy supply stability, the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and international trade order,” Mr Xi said.
A Russian presidential aide said earlier Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.
Mr Putin also stressed China and Russia’s cooperation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilising factors on the international stage”.
“In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,” he said.
In February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a “no limits” partnership during a trip by Mr Putin to Beijing.
Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.
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