Chinese President Xi Jinping called ties with Russia "conducive to peace" while convening with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing in a first since Putin's re-election in March. 

After greeting Putin at a grand ceremony outside central Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi said, "China-Russia relations [are] not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries... but also conducive to peace," as confirmed by a readout from Beijing's Foreign Ministry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. pic.twitter.com/jYlVII1GL2

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 16, 2024

The readout added that Xi said that "China is ready to work with Russia to... uphold fairness and justice in the world," adding, "The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it."

In an analysis, independent Russian political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP, "This is Putin's first trip after his inauguration, and it is therefore intended to show that Sino-Russian relations are moving up another level," noting, "the visibly sincere personal friendship between the two leaders."

Meanwhile, experts are anticipating this week's meeting to result in congratulations on the partnership, in addition to deals and pledges to amp up trade.

Read next: US global standing plummeting in favor of China, Russia: Survey

According to the Kremlin, Xi and Putin signed a joint declaration after discussions and attended an evening to mark 75 years of diplomatic bilateral relations. "The Soviet Union was the first to recognize the new China," Putin said.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Por invitación del líder chino, Xi Jinping, el Presidente de Rusia, Vladímir Putin, llegó a Pekín, iniciando su visita de Estado a la República Popular China.

Se trata del primer viaje al extranjero del mandatario ruso tras la toma de posesión.#RusiaChina pic.twitter.com/oZiON0uO4S

— Cancillería de Rusia 🇷🇺 (@mae_rusia) May 16, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the country's second top official, is also due to convene with Putin as he intends to travel to the northeastern city of Harbin for a trade and investment expo.

The Kremlin added this week that the discussions were meant to "define key areas of development of Russian-Chinese cooperation and exchange views on international and regional issues."

'Solid baggage' of bilateral ties

Related News

Trump’s nuclear claims: Misreading strategy as Russia, China modernize

Ukraine’s IMF aid in limbo as EU debates use of Russian assets

On his part, Putin relayed in a meeting with Xi that the Sino-Russian ties are not of an opportunistic nature and are not directed against anyone.

"It is of fundamental importance that the Russia-China relationship is not opportunistic and not directed against anyone. Our cooperation in world affairs today is one of the main stabilizing factors in the international arena," he said, reiterating their commitment to the principles of a fair and democratic world order reflecting multipolarism based on international law.

"Russia and China are successfully cooperating in the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the G20. We are determined to further harmonize integration processes in the Eurasian space, to match the potentials of the Eurasian Economic Union and, my dear friend, your One Belt and Road Initiative," Putin said.

"I would like to emphasize that I am very glad to be in China and meeting with you," Putin expressed.

"We have a good, good tradition of making first foreign visits to each other, and this is a clear confirmation of the importance that both we and you, in Moscow and Beijing, attach to the course of consistent development of bilateral relations, comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation," he continued.

"Moscow and Beijing have indeed accumulated a solid baggage of practical cooperation," Putin said.

Chinese ally for stability 

Speaking on bilateral trade in energy, industry, and innovation, and based on last year's numbers, Putin said Russia is now China's 4th trade partner and that the "approval of the plan for the development of key areas of Russia-China economic cooperation until 2030 following your visit to Moscow in March 2023 played a direct role in this."

"Humanitarian contacts are expanding. We will hold years of cultures of Russia and China in 2024-2025, in accordance with our agreement," Putin noted as he thanked Xi for his "congratulatory letter on the occasion of my reelection as president of the Russian Federation and thank you very much for the invitation."

Read more: Putin upcoming visit to Beijing reveals US threats as ineffective: FT

This visit serves as a poke in the eye to the West, which has been trying to threaten China for supporting Russia and its trade amid the war in Ukraine, which also comes amid Chinese customs figures revealing that since the start of the war two years ago, Sino-Russian trade hit $240 billion last year. 

Yesterday, when asked by Chinese state news outlet Xinhua about his opinion of China's stance and efforts regarding the political settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, Putin emphasized, "We commend China's approaches to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. Beijing is well aware of its root causes and global geopolitical significance."

The Russian President stressed that the ideas and suggestions included in Beijing's 2023 position paper on Ukraine "show the genuine desire" of Russia's "Chinese friends to help stabilize the situation." 

He added that the steps proposed by Beijing to resolve the Ukrainian conflict could form the basis for the political and diplomatic process, which would take into consideration Russia's security concerns and help in reaching a "long-term and sustainable peace." 

In the last five years, trade exchange between both countries has doubled, increasing from $111 billion in 2019 to $227.8 billion last year with more than 90% of bilateral trade transactions made in the two national currencies, he emphasized.