The Russian president’s official visit reinforces what both sides have described as a “no-limits” relationship
Published 20 May, 2026 02:53
| Updated 20 May, 2026 06:36
© Sputnik / Kristina Solovyova
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted an official welcoming ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, opening a packed day of talks and events aimed at further deepening ties between the two countries.
Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday night for a two-day official visit at Xi’s invitation. The trip coincides with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, a landmark document that laid the foundation for their strategic relationship.
The Russian leader’s schedule in Beijing includes one-on-one and expanded-format talks with Xi, and several events highlighting the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of relations.
Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes senior Kremlin officials, government ministers, and the heads of major Russian companies and financial institutions, including Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, and Russian space chief Dmitry Bakanov.
The agenda is expected to cover trade, energy, security, investment, technological cooperation, and global affairs. Around 40 bilateral documents are expected to be signed during the visit, including a joint statement on deepening comprehensive strategic ties.
In a video address to the people of China ahead of the trip, Putin described Russia and China as a stabilizing force in global politics that seeks “peace and universal prosperity.”
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20 May 2026
07:02 GMT
Russia-China relations have reached an “unprecedented level” and continue to develop, Putin says, adding that the sides have signed a large package of bilateral documents, including ones aimed at improving trade relations.
The Russian president noted that trade turnover reached almost $230 billion in 2025, adding that all export and import transactions are carried out in national currencies.
- 06:55 GMT
The state of the world is “far from being calm,” Xi says, adding that aspirations for a global hegemony threaten to bring back “the law of the jungle.”
- 06:51 GMT
Despite a difficult international situation, Russia-China trade turnover has exceeded $200 billion, with the figures between January and April alone growing by 20%, Xi has said, describing it as “not an easy feat.”
- 06:44 GMT
Xi has touted the talks as “deep, friendly, and productive” which he said focused on a broad international agenda.
- 06:43 GMT
The fact that this is Putin’s 25th trip to China is testament to the “special nature” of the relations between the two countries, Xi has said.
- 06:35 GMT
Putin and Xi have arrived at the signing ceremony, where they were welcomed by a round of applause, according to a video shared by RT’s Don Courter.
- 06:35 GMT
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov has described the talks between Putin and Xi as “positive,” saying the two sides discussed “very many” issues, including a “promising energy project,” an apparent reference to the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.
Ushakov confirmed that the sides reached an agreement on energy, describing it as “something very important,” but said that Putin would himself provide more details shortly.
- 06:24 GMT
Ruptly has shared a short video of aides preparing a stack of documents to be signed by the Russian and Chinese leaders.
- 06:05 GMT
Journalists are gathering in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where Putin and Xi are set to sign a package of documents and speak to the press.
- 05:58 GMT
Asked to compare the welcome Xi gave US President Donald Trump to that given to Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the substance of the talks matters more than ceremonial details.
“It makes sense to compare the substance, even if it is not always easy because not everything is visible,” he told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.
“Although… for Eastern countries – and we are also partly an Eastern country – the ceremonial component is also imbued with special significance,” he added.
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20 May 2026
02:54 GMT
President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a two-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Russian leader’s plane was met on the tarmac by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, along with an honor guard and a group of children waving Russian and Chinese flags.
Footage from the airport showed members of the honor guard arriving on motorcycles ahead of Putin’s plane, before the Russian president stepped onto the red carpet and was greeted by Chinese officials.
The visit is expected to focus on bilateral ties, trade, energy, security, and global affairs, with around 40 joint documents due to be signed during Putin’s stay in China.
- 03:01 GMT
Final preparations underway at the Great Hall of the People ahead of Putin-Xi summit in Beijing, RT’s correspondent Don Courter reports from the scene.
- 03:02 GMT
Putin is accompanied in Beijing by a high-level delegation that reflects the breadth of the visit’s agenda, including senior Kremlin officials, government ministers, and the heads of major Russian companies and financial institutions.
The delegation includes First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Ministers Tatyana Golikova and Aleksandr Novak, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov, Rosneft head Igor Sechin, and Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller, along with other representatives of government bodies and major Russian businesses.
- 03:07 GMT
Chinese President Xi Jinping is holding an official welcome ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
The ceremony marks the formal start of Putin’s program in the Chinese capital after he arrived the previous night for a two-day official visit at Xi’s invitation. The two leaders are expected to hold one-on-one and expanded-format talks later in the day, with the agenda set to include bilateral ties, trade, energy, security, technology, and major international issues.
- 03:19 GMT
Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged handshakes as the ceremony got underway.
- 03:20 GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted members of each other’s delegations during the official welcome ceremony in Beijing.
Putin shook hands with Chinese officials, while Xi, with Putin by his side, greeted members of the Russian delegation. Footage from the ceremony showed broad smiles and a warm atmosphere as the two sides exchanged greetings.
- 03:28 GMT
The Russian anthem resounded across Tiananmen Square to the sound of cannon fire as Putin and Xi stood side by side during the official welcome ceremony in Beijing.
- 03:30 GMT
Children waving Russian and Chinese flags greeted Putin and Xi as the two leaders walked to the Great Hall of the People while the orchestra performed Moscow Nights.
- 03:32 GMT
Putin and Xi have begun talks in Beijing with a narrow group of delegation members present.
- 03:35 GMT
Xi Jinping called Putin his “dear friend” and said Russia and China are shaping the future of bilateral ties on the basis of mutual benefit and respect.
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