BEIJING (AP) 鈥� 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 Wednesday on his trip to Beijing.
Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after . The quick succession of Trump鈥檚 and Putin鈥檚 visits highlighted Beijing鈥檚 growing role as an international superpower, experts say.
Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.
鈥淢y dear friend,鈥� Putin said. 鈥淲e are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.鈥�
Xi also stressed the 鈥減olitical mutual trust and strategic cooperation鈥� between the countries, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his 鈥渂est and most intimate friend.鈥�
Energy purchases top meeting鈥檚 agenda
Xi and Putin were 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鈥檚 top trading partner after Moscow鈥檚 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 U.S. and Europe.
China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the to increase the demand.
In his meeting with Xi, Putin stressed their countries鈥� economic ties.
鈥淭he driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector,鈥� Putin said. 鈥淎mid 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.鈥�
Xi stressed the need of 鈥渃omplete cessation of hostilities鈥� in the Middle East, according to Chinese state media.
鈥淎n 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,鈥� Xi said.
A Russian presidential aide said earlier Russia鈥檚 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.
Xi and Putin show a united front on international affairs
Putin also stressed China and Russia鈥檚 cooperation in foreign policy as 鈥渙ne of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.鈥�
鈥淚n the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,鈥� he said.
In February 2022, just weeks before Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a 鈥渘o limits鈥� partnership during a trip by 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鈥檚 weapons industries.
Image-making visit
The two leaders are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements during Putin鈥檚 two-day visit.
But regardless of specific deals, the primary purpose of the visit is to reaffirm the countries鈥� ties as well as project Beijing鈥檚 image as an influential superpower, experts say.
鈥淭he optics matter,鈥� said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.
鈥淭he message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them.鈥�
Putin and Xi both need to use their close ties in order to prop up their images at home, said Willy Lam, a senior China fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.
Putin 鈥渘eeds to tell his countrymen and the world that Russia has China鈥檚 support in terms of buying its oil and gas and other tangible and intangible financial support,鈥� Lam said.
Meanwhile, for Xi, having both Trump and Putin visit in such close succession is a major source of credit with the country鈥檚 top Communist leadership.
Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached 鈥渁 very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.鈥�
鈥淧ractically all the key issues have been agreed upon,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased.鈥�
Putin also praised their bilateral relationship as a crucial, balancing force in international relations.
鈥淚nteraction between such nations as China and Russia undoubtedly serves as a factor of deterrence and stability,鈥� he said.
Moscow welcomes China鈥檚 dialogue with the U.S. as another stabilizing element for the global economy, Putin added.
鈥淲e stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China,鈥� he said.
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Mistreanu reported from Bangkok.
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