Compliments from both sides, smiles, mutual support in the internal affairs of their countries, willingness to talk about the Ukrainian language and a rich dinner.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s much-anticipated three-day visit to Russia began at noon with his informal meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, with the two leaders seemingly seeing it as an opportunity to build an anti-Western front.

The two men called each other “my dear friend” at their meeting in the Kremlin this afternoon before a dinner, to be followed by formal talks on Tuesday with the expected signing of agreements to deepen Russian-Chinese cooperation.

BREAKING: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Russia for a three-day state visit, when he’s expected to deliver a strong message of support for Vladimir Putin https://t.co/ZXpEoSOF9H pic.twitter.com/vNKf5gjy8x

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Xi’s visit is a bid by Beijing to deepen economic ties with an ally it sees as a useful counterweight to the West, but also to promote Beijing’s role as a potential peacemaker in the war in Ukraine.

Regarding the latter, Putin indicated to Xi that he views China’s proposals for resolving the conflict in Ukraine with respect, saying he is ready to discuss Beijing’s proposed peace plan to resolve the war in Ukraine.

China in late February presented a 12-point document on resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, calling on Moscow and Kiev to “cease hostilities” and hold peace talks.

The Russian president assured his Chinese counterpart that Moscow and Beijing have “many tasks and many common goals” during this informal meeting in the Kremlin.

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“We have many common tasks and goals,” Putin said, hailing Beijing as paying “great attention to the development of relations between Russia and China.”

“China has created a very effective system to develop the economy and strengthen the state. It’s much more efficient than many other countries,” he said, saying he was “a little jealous” of China’s rapid growth in recent decades.

Xi praised the “close relations” between Moscow and Beijing, saying “we are partners in global strategic cooperation. It is this that determines that there should be close relations between our countries,” he said at the start of this informal meeting, according to a translation of his remarks broadcast live on Russian television.

Meanwhile, the Chinese president told Putin he is confident Russians will back him in Russia’s 2024 presidential election, even though the Kremlin leader has yet to announce whether he will seek another term.

Putin, who came to power on the last day of 1999 when Boris Yeltsin resigned, is the Kremlin’s longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin.

“I know that Russia will hold a presidential election,” Xi told Putin, speaking in Mandarin.

“Under your strong leadership, Russia has made great strides in its prosperous development. I am confident that the Russian people will continue to give you their unwavering support.”