Putin, received with a red carpet in Beijing. Xi describes the relationship with Russia as a force of “calm in the midst of chaos” and veiledly attacks the US

China's relationship with Russia has reached an “unprecedented level”, Vladimir Putin said during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday with Xi Jinping. The Russian leader was received with all the honors of a state visit, as was Donald Trump last week, according to CNN.

Standing next to Putin in the Great Hall of the People, Xi launched a veiled allusion to the US. “The international situation is marked by interconnected turbulence and transformation, while unilateral hegemonic currents are booming,” Xi said, using typical Beijing language to criticize what he sees as an overstepping of US foreign policy.

Faced with this situation, the Chinese leader added that the two countries should strengthen their “comprehensive strategic coordination”, Chinese media reported.

The Chinese leader directly referred to the US-Israeli war against Iran, saying its “quick end” will help reduce disruptions to energy supplies, supply chains and trade.

“The complete cessation of war cannot bear any delay, the resumption of hostilities is even less desirable, and the continuation of negotiations is particularly important,” Xi said.

Putin is making his 25th official visit to China in his 25 years as Russia's leader and his first since the new Middle East conflict erupted as his military continues to wage war in Ukraine.

In his opening speech, Vladimir Putin stated that Russian-Chinese relations have reached an “unprecedented level” and are among the “main factors of stability on the international stage”.

The Russian leader alluded to his close personal ties with Xi Jinping, with whom he has met more than 40 times, using the Chinese expression that emphasizes the sadness of separation: “One day of separation seems like three autumns.”

Meetings between Putin and Xi are expected to focus on expanding their “borderless” partnership, while also giving the two an opportunity to discuss Trump's visit and the wars in Ukraine and Iran, CNN writes.

Putin suggested that energy, industry, agriculture, transport and high technology would be other topics on the agenda. “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,” he told Xi.

A double date in Beijing

For Xi, hosting the leaders of the United States and Russia – two nations at loggerheads – within days is an advantage as he aims to strengthen China's reputation as an influencer on the international stage.

Putin's reception in front of the monumental Great Hall on Wednesday morning had all the hallmarks of a typical state visit reception, just as Beijing gave Donald Trump last week.

Xi and a number of his senior officials shook hands with the Russian president, after which the leaders, who looked quite relaxed, stood shoulder-to-shoulder during a salute as a military band played and Russian and Chinese flags fluttered in the background. Children waved flags and flowers as the leaders walked past — a moment of last week's ceremony that visibly amused Trump.

The gestures appeared to underscore the enduring and growing alignment between China and Russia, even as both governments reorient their relations with the US.

The two sides are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 2001 “Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation,” which resolved long-standing border conflicts and marked the beginning of a new period of cooperation.

They are also expected to welcome what they see as a new direction in international relations – one designed to serve their strategic goals and in which the US is no longer the global superpower.

Beyond the pomp and rhetoric, Putin is also in a much weaker position vis-à-vis Xi than during his last visit to Beijing in September. Days before his arrival, Ukraine launched what Russian media described as the largest attack on Moscow in a year, hitting the capital with more than 500 drones.

At the same time, Russia has lost ground to Ukraine, last month suffering what analysts believe to be the first net loss of territory since August 2024.

Xi could take advantage of the increasingly lopsided relationship between the two countries — Russia's economy is heavily dependent on China — to gain advantages for Beijing in energy cooperation at a time when conflict in the Middle East limits Beijing's access to crude oil.