Xi and Putin highlight their friendship and cooperation on energy and other issues in Beijing visit

Xi and Putin highlight their friendship and cooperation on energy and other issues in Beijing visit 1 of 7 | Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday meant to reaffirm ties. Putin’s visit to China comes only days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump. 2 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing Wednesday. Putin received a welcome by the honor guard, as well as young children waving Chinese and Russian flags. 3 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 4 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 5 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP) 6 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP) 7 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 1 of 7 Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday meant to reaffirm ties. Putin’s visit to China comes only days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing Wednesday. Putin received a welcome by the honor guard, as well as young children waving Chinese and Russian flags. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 3 of 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 4 of 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP) 5 of 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 6 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP) 6 of 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 7 of 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 7 of 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Beijing (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing.Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The quick succession of Trump’s and Putin’s visits highlighted Beijing’s growing role as an international superpower, experts say.Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.“My dear friend,” Putin said. “We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.”Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his “best and most intimate friend.” energy purchases top meeting’s agendaXi and Putin were set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.China became Russia’s top trading partner after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. 3 MIN READ 4 MIN READ 5 MIN READ In his meeting with Xi, Putin stressed their countries’ economic ties. “The driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector,” Putin said. “Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources.” Xi stressed the need of “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East, according to Chinese state media.“An early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to energy supply stability, the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and international trade order,” Xi said.A Russian presidential aide said earlier Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.Xi and Putin show a united front on international affairsPutin also stressed China and Russia’s cooperation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.” “In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,” he said.In February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a “no limits” partnership during a trip by Putin to Beijing.Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries. Image-making visitThe two leaders are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements during Putin’s two-day visit.But regardless of specific deals, the primary purpose of the visit is to reaffirm the countries’ ties as well as project Beijing’s image as an influential superpower, experts say.“The optics matter,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.“The message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them.”Putin and Xi both need to use their close ties in order to prop up their images at home, said Willy Lam, a senior China fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.Putin “needs to tell his countrymen and the world that Russia has China’s support in terms of buying its oil and gas and other tangible and intangible financial support,” Lam said.Meanwhile, for Xi, having both Trump and Putin visit in such close succession is a major source of credit with the country’s top Communist leadership. Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached “a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.”“Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon,” he said. “If we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased.”Putin also praised their bilateral relationship as a crucial, balancing force in international relations.“Interaction between such nations as China and Russia undoubtedly serves as a factor of deterrence and stability,” he said.Moscow welcomes China’s dialogue with the U.S. as another stabilizing element for the global economy, Putin added.“We stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China,” he said.___Mistreanu reported from Bangkok. Mistreanu is a Greater China reporter for The Associated Press, based in Taipei, Taiwan. She has reported on China since 2015.