- The Russian president described Mr Xi’s visit as a “landmark event” that “reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership”.
- Mr Xi has claimed that  a 12-point peace plan drafted by Beijing last month to end the war in Ukraine reflects “the unity of the world community’s views”.
- The Chinese leader’s visit on Monday is the first by a foreign leader since an arrest warrant was issued for his Russian counterpart by the International Criminal Court.
- Mr Putin wrote that he and Mr Xi had “high expectations for the upcoming talks”. He described his opposite number as a “good old friend” with whom he enjoys the “warmest relationship”.
Writing in the official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, the Russian president described Mr Xi’s visit as a “landmark event” that reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership”. Mr Xi has returned the favour in the Kremlin’s Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily, claiming a 12-point peace plan drafted by Beijing last month to end the war in Ukraine reflects “the unity of the world community’s views’ .
Putin has written an extensive article in the Newspaper ahead of Mr Xi’s three-day trip to Russia, claiming the relationship between the two countries is “consistently growing stronger”. Vladimir Putin says Russia and China are fighting ‘common threats’ ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit.
The Chinese leader’s visit on Monday is the first by a foreign leader since an arrest warrant was issued for his Russian counterpart by the International Criminal Court. Justice ministers from more than 40 nations, will be in London later to support the investigation into alleged war crimes.
Mr Putin wrote that he and Mr Xi had “high expectations for the upcoming talks”. He described his opposite number as a “good old friend” with whom he enjoys the “warmest relationship”, adding that Russia’s relations with China are “consistently growing stronger” and at “the highest level in their history”.
Mr Putin is scheduled to have a one-to-one meeting with Mr Xi on Monday, according to the Kremlin, before holding further negotiations on Tuesday and giving a statement to the media. The Chinese president’s article was more focused on the war in Ukraine, during which Beijing has tried to strike a balance between calling for peace and avoiding criticism of Russia.
Mr Xi’s regime has denied US and NATO accusations that it is considering supplying arms to aid the illegal invasion, which Mr Putin continues to insist in his article was “fuelled by the West”. Mr Putin claimed he is “open to the political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis” and welcomed Beijing’s recent ceasefire proposals, which the Chinese leader promoted in his article. The peace plan which includes respecting “the sovereignty of all countries” and ending any sanctions is “constructive” and promotes a “political settlement”, Mr Xi claimed.
“Complex problems do not have simple solutions,” he said, but adding an end to the war would ensure “the stability of global production and supply chains”. A resolution can be found “if everyone is guided by the concept of common, comprehensive, joint and sustainable security, and continues dialogue and consultations in an equal, prudent and pragmatic manner”, he wrote.
