Chinese soldiers stood at attention while a military band played the national anthems of Russia and its leaders in the center of the . Children waved Russian and Chinese flags and shouted “Welcome, welcome!” in Chinese, before the two leaders entered the Great Hall.
last week, when the leaders of the world’s two largest economies discussed issues ranging from trade and investment to the conflict with and Taiwan.
Xi: ‘The world is in danger of returning to the ‘law of the jungle’
The talks between Xi and Putin began with a shorter so-called “restricted meeting” involving fewer representatives to discuss sensitive issues, before the two leaders held a “broader meeting” with their respective delegations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who welcomed Putin upon his arrival in Beijing on Tuesday night, is also expected to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
China’s state media reported that Xi, in his opening speech, said the two countries should help each other in national development and revitalization, adding that the world was in danger of returning to the “law of the jungle.”
Putin’s invitation to Xi
In his opening speech, Putin described the two countries’ relations as “at an unprecedented level”, noting that Moscow remains a “reliable supplier of energy” amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Putin also invited Xi to visit Russia next year.
Xi said continued hostilities in the Middle East were “undesirable” and that “achieving a comprehensive ceasefire is a matter of the highest priority,” according to state media.
Mutual trade and investment are likely to be at the top of Putin’s agenda as his sanctions-hit economy suffers from the mounting costs of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
The China-US trade agreement for the 200 Boeings
As Xi prepared to welcome Putin, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed that China would buy 200 Boeing jets and seek to extend the trade deal with the US reached last year in Kuala Lumpur. The statement marked the first confirmation from Beijing of the order to Boeing, which Trump had alluded to last week.
The evaluation of the two consecutive meetings is critical
The context and manner of Xi’s meetings with other world leaders is often seen as a sign of the Chinese president’s appreciation for his visitor, with the image and outcome of his meeting with Putin under heightened scrutiny given that it comes so soon after Trump’s visit.
Tea and sympathy between Putin and Xi
In contrast to the antagonistic nature of relations between Washington and Beijing, Putin and Xi have shown an increasingly warm relationship in recent years, with the leaders calling each other “dear” and “old” friends.
When the Chinese leader last hosted his Russian counterpart in May 2024, the two men looked at ease as they removed their ties and talked over tea in a former imperial garden that now houses the offices of the Chinese Communist Party.
