Putin and Xi meet in Beijing days after Trump's high-profile China visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met in Beijing, days after US President Donald Trump visited China for a summit with the Chinese leader amid the US-Iran war.

Putin was received with an official welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People, where Xi greeted him, before the two sat for talks.

Likely topics on the agenda for their talks include bilateral relations, trade, the US-Iran war, energy cooperation and the Ukraine conflict.

Putin is accompanied by a delegation that includes five deputy prime ministers, eight ministers, and several business executives.

The two leaders are also expected to sign a joint statement following the talks and other agreements.

Focus on trade and conflicts

Energy cooperation is expected to deepen, while trade targets are likely to be reaffirmed or modestly raised.

Putin and Xi have planned to sign a joint statement and several other agreements following the talks.

The Russian president will later meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss economic cooperation.

The trip coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries.

Bilateral trade between Russia and China reached more than $240 billion in 2023, and China now absorbs roughly 50 per cent of Russia’s crude oil exports.

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Source: TRT