Putin and Xi hold bilateral talks after ceremony in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday before the two leaders began bilateral talks.
The meeting comes amid heightened global tensions linked to the wars in Ukraine and Iran.
The discussions are expected to cover energy security, trade and geopolitical developments, including the war in Iran.
Moscow and Beijing have deepened strategic cooperation in recent years, with Russia seeking stronger energy ties with China through projects such as the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin walks with China’s Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing, 20 May 2026 (Maxim Stulov/AFP)