Xi gave Putin a red carpet welcome outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with the two leaders watching a parade of People’s Liberation Army soldiers, a 21-gun salute on Tiananmen Square and children waving the flags of China and Russia.
China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II.
During their meeting, Xi and Putin signed a joint statement emphasizing their opposition to U.S. actions across various security issues, including Taiwan, Ukraine and North Korea. They also highlighted their collaboration on peaceful nuclear technologies and finance.
“The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,” Xi told Putin.
“China is willing to... jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world,” he continued.
The broad worldviews of Putin and Xi both regard the West as decadent and in decline, and China now challenges American dominance in fields ranging from hard military might to quantum computing and synthetic biology. Their alliance has faced criticism from the U.S., with President Joe Biden referring to Xi as a “dictator” and Putin as a “killer.”
Putin’s visit to China comes amid tensions between the U.S. and China over allegations of Chinese support for Russia’s military actions. The joint statement issued by Xi and Putin criticized the U.S. for viewing the world through a Cold War lens and prioritizing narrow security interests.
The leaders discussed strengthening ties in sectors ranging from nuclear cooperation to food supplies and manufacturing. However, notable was the absence of Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller from Putin’s delegation, who was engaged in talks with Iranian officials.
The two-day visit culminated with a gala celebration marking 75 years since the Soviet Union recognized the People’s Republic of China. It remains uncertain if Putin will make further stops in Asia following his visit to China.
