Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening (local time) for an official visit to China, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

At the airport, the Russian president exchanged a warm handshake with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. A military honor guard stood at attention, while teenagers waved Chinese and Russian flags to welcome him.

This marks Putin’s 25th visit to China. During the visit, the two leaders will discuss bilateral relations, cooperation across various fields, and international and regional matters of common interest, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the two countries will use the opportunity to further deepen and upgrade their relations.