BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing early Thursday to start his two-day official visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
He will hold talks with Xi Jinping that the Kremlin hopes will strengthen a strategic partnership between the two most powerful geopolitical rivals of the United States.
The Kremlin shared a video of Putin’s arrival in Beijing, where he was accorded a red-carpet welcome by a ceremonial guard.
This is Putin’s first visit since beginning of his fifth term as president of Russia following elections in March.
China and Russia announced a no-limits partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited the Chinese capital just days before the war between Russia and Ukraine started.
According to experts Putin by picking China for his first foreign trip is trying to send a message to the world about his priorities and the depth of his personal ties with Xi.
Putin praises Xi for building strategic partnership
Earlier Putin in an interview with China’s Xinhua news agency, praised Xi for helping to build a strategic partnership with Moscow based on mutual interests.
According to a statement by the Kremlin, Putin during the visit will discuss the entire range of issues of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction with Xi.
He will also identify key directions to further boost bilateral cooperation and exchange views on international and regional issues during the visit.
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A joint statement and several bilateral agreements are also expected to be signed during the visit.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaking in the upper house of parliament on Tuesday said Moscow and Beijing are interested in establishing a more fair and democratic world order.
China is a key market for the Russian military industry, while also massively expanding its local defensive industries, including building aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.
