Putin Visits Beijing to Deepen China Ties and Seek Energy Deals

Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening for a two-day state visit, four days after Donald Trump left China, and was greeted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and an honour guard.

The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and focuses on energy, trade and geopolitical issues, including talks on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.

Putin said in a video address that China-Russia relations had reached 'an unprecedented level,' and China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the friendship will be further deepened under strategic guidance from Xi and Putin.

The Kremlin said about 40 documents are expected to be signed, including a 47-page joint statement, while two-way trade reached roughly $237 to $245 billion and China has bought more than $367 billion of Russian fossil fuels since the invasion.

Officials said the leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration on establishing a multipolar world and a 'new type' of international relations, and a Kremlin aide said Putin and Xi are set to meet again at multiple international gatherings.