Putin declares partnership with Beijing has reached "unprecedented" peak

Putin flatteringly called Xi Jinping a "dear friend" and invited him to Moscow next year.

The Chinese leader stated that China and Russia should work together to build a “more equitable system of global governance.” He added that the people of both countries allegedly “seek peace and development.”

Xi Jinping announced that the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship [signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 16 July 2001 - ed.] “is becoming increasingly more significant during a time of international major changes.”

Putin signed a joint statement on further strengthening strategic coordination between China and Russia, in addition to two dozen other agreements in his visit to Beijing, Russian media reported.

On May 19, Putin arrived in Beijing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, shortly after Xi's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 13-15.

Putin and Xi are expected to hold talks on bilateral relations and international issues on May 20. Putin arrived at Tiananmen Square, that was decorated with Chinese and Russian symbols. He was greeted by a military band, the Chinese military honor guard, and children carrying flags of both countries.

According to the Financial Times, citing sources close to the talks, Xi told Trump during their meeting that Putin may regret his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.