Putin lands in Beijing for talks with Xi (VIDEO)

Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed with an honor guard after his plane touched down in Beijing, marking his first foreign trip after being sworn in for his fifth term in office.

The two-day visit just ten days after his inauguration underscores the importance of Russian-Chinese relations, the Kremlin said. Putin will meet with President Xi Jinping later on Thursday.

Putin and Xi are set to discuss bilateral ties and strategic cooperation between the two nations, and determine the direction for developing future cooperation, according to an announcement from the Kremlin ahead of the trip.

Putin’s last visit to China was in October 2023, while Xi made a trip to Moscow in March 2023. The two countries have enjoyed close ties since the breakup of the Soviet Union and have supported each other amid tensions with the US and NATO.