The Russian leader is on a four-day visit to China, his longest trip abroad since 2012 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, China on September 1, 2025. © Vladimir Smirnov / Sputnik Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as well as leaders from Mongolia and Slovakia, in Beijing. Putin arrived at the Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square, where he also met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. Addressing his “dear friend” Xi, Putin noted how relations between Russia and China are “at an unprecedentedly high level.” Moscow and Beijing have described each other as strategic partners and have pledged to deepen cooperation “without limits” across multiple fields, including security, tech, finance, and research. China remains Russia’s largest trade partner. Putin also voiced support for Xi’s proposed reform of global governance, announced at the SCO Summit on Monday. Both leaders stressed their shared goal of creating a fairer international system, free from US dominance, while condemning what they call Washington’s “unilateral” sanctions and its weaponization of trade. 02 September 2025 09:55 GMT In his talks with Fico, Putin called allegations of Russian plans to strike Europe “utter nonsense with no basis.” Fico told Putin that Bratislava would “respond firmly” to attacks on energy infrastructure. The Slovak leader said he would raise the issue in talks with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in Uzhgorod, a city in western Ukraine, on Friday. Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba (‘Friendship’) oil pipeline last month repeatedly disrupted flows to Slovakia. Russia values Slovakia’s independent foreign policy, Putin has said during talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing. Putin is holding talks in China with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. You can watch the live feed here China will introduce a year-long trial visa-free regime for Russian citizens, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has announced. From September 15, holders of ordinary Russian passports will be able to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits or exchanges, he told a briefing on Tuesday. Moscow and Beijing launched a visa-free group tourist exchange in August 2023, which was used by nearly 130,000 people that year, according to Russia’s Association of Tour Operators. Guo said the move reflected the high level of development in China-Russia ties under the strategic guidance of the two countries’ leaders and was aimed at deepening people-to-people exchanges. The Kremlin has released footage of Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where President Putin is due to hold a series of bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts. A historic venue frequently used by Chinese leaders to host visiting dignitaries, the Diaoyutai compound has long been a site for high-level state talks. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived in Beijing aboard his bulletproof ‘Sunshine’ train, according to Yonhap News Agency. He is in the Chinese capital to attend the Victory Day parade as well as a trilateral meeting with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Russia and China have signed more than 20 agreements on bilateral cooperation following talks in Beijing between Putin and Xi, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The accords cover areas including energy, aerospace, artificial intelligence, agriculture, inspection and quarantine oversight, healthcare, scientific research, education, and media, the broadcaster said. Putin and Xi have taken a walk around the grounds of the Chinese leader’s residence. The leaders of Russia and China continued talks over tea at Xi’s private Zhongnanhai residence, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, releasing footage of the meeting. The discussions followed earlier, broader talks between the two leaders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, deputy head of Putin’s administration Maksim Oreshkin, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov also participated in the meeting. © kremlin.ru More
“We see constant hysteria about Russia allegedly planning to attack Europe. For any sensible person, it is clear this is either a provocation or complete incompetence. Russia has never had, does not have, and will never have any desire to attack anyone,” he said.
“We highly appreciate the independent foreign policy pursued by you and your team, your government. This policy is delivering positive results, above all in terms of economic performance,” Putin stated.
