Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the strength of their strategic partnership on Wednesday as the two leaders met in Beijing for high-level talks expected to focus heavily on energy cooperation and global geopolitics.

Putin’s visit comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his own high-profile trip to Beijing, adding extra symbolism and scrutiny to the Xi–Putin summit.

Xi welcomed Putin at the Great Hall of the People with a full honour guard, gun salute and waving Chinese and Russian flags. The two leaders are also expected to hold a private tea meeting later in the day a diplomatic gesture often closely watched in China for its symbolic meaning.

Xi Pushes “Strategic Cooperation”

At the start of talks, Xi stressed the importance of long-term strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow.

“The reason China-Russia relations have reached this level is because we have been able to deepen political mutual trust and strategic cooperation,” Xi said, according to Chinese state media.

He also called for a “more just and reasonable” global governance system, echoing both countries’ broader push against Western-led international structures.

Putin praised the stability of ties between the two countries and positioned Russia as a reliable energy supplier at a time of global uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East.

“Even against the backdrop of unfavourable external factors, our cooperation and economic ties continue to demonstrate good dynamics,” Putin said.

Tea Diplomacy And Carefully Managed Optics

The summit has also drawn attention for its carefully choreographed imagery.

Xi is known for hosting select world leaders for private tea meetings, often seen as a sign of personal trust and political importance.

Last year, Xi and Putin held informal outdoor tea talks in Zhongnanhai, China’s heavily guarded leadership compound.

In contrast, Trump’s recent tea meeting and garden tour with Xi appeared more tightly staged and ceremonial.

Analysts say Beijing is deliberately using the back-to-back visits to project itself as the centre of global diplomacy.

“Beijing is loving the optics of this,” said Graeme Smith of the Australian National University. “They’re loving being the centre of world attention.”

Energy And Trade In Focus

Energy cooperation is expected to be central to discussions.

Talks are likely to include negotiations over the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would transport Russian gas to northern China.

Russia has been eager to deepen energy ties with China as Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine war continue to pressure Moscow’s economy.

Trade between China and Russia rose 16.1% in the first four months of this year after declining in 2025 for the first time in five years.

The Kremlin said around 40 agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, alongside a major joint statement on strengthening the China-Russia partnership.

(with inputs from Reuters)