Putin and Xi hold talks in Beijing (VIDEOS)

The Russian president’s official visit reinforces what both sides have described as a “no-limits” relationship

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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