Xi welcomes ‘old friend’ Putin to China as pair hail ‘unprecedented’ relationship
President Xi Jinping has welcomed his "old friend" Vladimir Putin to Beijing for bilateral talks - as China hosts a string of world leaders this week in a huge show of force against the West.
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The Russian President hailed relations between the countries, claiming they were at an "unprecedented level".
"Dear friend, both I and the entire Russian delegation are pleased to meet once again with our Chinese friends and colleagues," Putin told Xi, he said in a video published on the Kremlin's official Telegram messaging app.
"Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of Russia-China relations, which are at an unprecedentedly high level," the Russian leader added.
Xi said China is keen to collaborate with Moscow to "promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system", calling Putin an "old friend".
He said: "China-Russia relations have withstood the test of international changes".
Read more: China and India pledge to be 'partners not rivals' ahead of security summit
The pair appeared to hit out at Western governments during the summit on Monday, with Xi taking a veiled swipe at the US’ sanctions as he blasted the "bullying" from certain countries.
Meanwhile, Putin appeared to blame the West for triggering the Ukraine war as he defended Russia’s latest assault.
The Chinese President is hosting world leaders from across Asia and the Middle this week as China prepares for its annual military parade on Wednesday.
The event celebrates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and China’s fight against Japan in the conflict.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to attend, among other adversaries of the West.
The parade would be the first time Kim, Xi and Putin attend the same venue at the same time, and reports suggest they could hold a trilateral meeting in a show of force against the West.
It comes after the Foreign Office summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK over strikes on Kyiv that Sir Keir Starmer condemned as "senseless".
Sir Keir said Putin is "sabotaging" hopes of peace as US-led efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict struggle to gain traction.
US President Donald Trump has said he hopes to broker a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders after he met with Mr Putin in Alaska two weeks ago and Mr Zelenskyy days later in Washington.
Russia has since said there are no plans for a direct meeting between Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Putin.