Following Trump's visit, Putin arrives in China for talks with Xi
During the visit, Putin will hold talks with his counterpart Xi JinpingIn a move aimed at highlighting the strength of relations between the two countries.
China's state television channel CCTV broadcast footage of Putin's plane landing at Beijing International Airport.
Putin and Xi are scheduled to discuss ways to strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin.
annual visit
Relations between the two countries have deepened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2002. Putin has visited China annually since then, at a time when his country faces international isolation.
However, the relationship is not equal, as Moscow is economically dependent on Beijing, which has become the main buyer of Russian oil, despite sanctions.
Among the issues on the table is the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline project, which will connect Russia to China via Mongolia, providing a land-based alternative to oil imported by sea from the Middle East—a project Moscow is keen to expedite.
30 years of strategic partnership
In a sign of the positive atmosphere surrounding Putin's visit to China, the two leaders exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday marking 30 years of strategic partnership between their countries.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiajun praised the enduring friendship between China and Russia.
In a video message to the Chinese people released on Tuesday, Putin said that relations between Moscow and Beijing had reached an unprecedented level and that trade between the two countries continued to grow.
He added that the close strategic partnership between Russia and China plays an important role on the global stage, and that without aligning against any party, they seek peace and prosperity for all, without mentioning any third country.
The two leaders are also expected to sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of their talks.
