Putin arrived in Beijing

By Ulf Mauder and Jörn Petring

Moscow (dpa) — Russian President Vladimir Putin began a two-day visit to China on Tuesday, where he will hold talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on expanding ties and pressing global issues.

Putin is being accompanied by a delegation of ministers, business leaders and senior officials, including central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina and the heads of major energy companies such as Gazprom and Rosneft, the Kremlin said.

Due to Western sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, many Russian firms have become reliant on China as a trading partner.

In a video recorded before his arrival, Putin said he was pleased to be visiting China again and pointed to closer people-to-people contacts thanks to a new visa-free travel agreement between the countries.

Putin also highlighted that trade volume between the nations has grown to more than $200 billion.

Putin arrived in Beijing

The visit comes days after US President Donald Trump concluded a high-profile state trip to China. While Putin is expected to be briefed by Xi on those talks, Kremlin officials said that the visit was planned and was not a direct response to Trump.

The Beijing-backed Global Times wrote that China is increasingly developing into a centre of world diplomacy. Citing analysts, it said it is extremely rare since the Cold War for a country to receive the leaders of the US and Russia one after the other within a week.

Bilateral agreements to be signed

Talks between Putin and Xi are scheduled for Wednesday, focusing on further developing what both sides describe as a privileged strategic partnership, as well as on regional and international issues.

According to the Kremlin, the leaders are set to sign a joint declaration and a series of bilateral agreements.

Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said that around 40 documents could be signed overall, covering areas including industry, trade, transport and construction.

Among them will be a statement on building a multipolar world order and new types of international relations, the Kremlin aide said.

Putin arrived in Beijing

A more informal meeting between the two leaders is also planned, including a closed-door tea ceremony where discussions are expected to touch on conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, he said.

China has said it is neutral in the Ukraine conflict, but Western observers believe China could end the war within 14 days if it stopped payment flows and the supply of chips and electronics to Russia.

Beijing and Moscow famously declared a “no limits” partnership days before Putin’s troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Energy cooperation is also high on the agenda, with Russia expected to push talks on the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline via Mongolia to China, which would significantly expand already substantial gas exports.

Putin, who last visited China in September 2025, is also due to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the trip.

His trip coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, a landmark agreement between Moscow and Beijing.

Putin and Xi are expected to meet several more times later this year on the sidelines of international events, Ushakov said.