Vladimir Putin tells Xi Jinping in a meeting in Beijing that the relationship between the two countries has reached an "unprecedentedly high level"
Xi wants to appear close to Moscow - but not too close because the Ukraine war has put him in an awkward spot, writes our China correspondent
Beijing is still the biggest buyer of Russian oil and a key ally despite Western sanctions against Moscow
Without Chinese money and tech, the very survival of Putin's regime would be in question, BBC Monitoring's chief analyst writes
Putin will be seeking to strengthen the relationship - a new pipeline that could deliver up to 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas to China will be high on the agenda
Putin told Xi they will "develop [bilateral] cooperation" and "work on international platforms", likely referring to platforms like the Brics grouping which both countries are a part of.
Xi in response affirmed Beijing's commitment to "unswervingly promote long-term, healthy and stable development of ties".
The two countries' "foundation of mutual trust is growing stronger", Chinese state media reported him saying.
We're getting some lines now from what has been dubbed a "wide format meeting" between Xi and Putin. It was originally scheuled to start at noon local time, but was pushed back by nearly an hour.
Chinese state media is reporting that Putin has told Xi that their "talks were substantial" and that the "Russia-China partnership is exemplary".
He also told Xi that their "aim is the well-being of Russia and Chinese people.
Meanwhile Xi has told Putin that "China and Russia relations have entered a new stage of more progress and faster development".
Laura Bicker
China correspondent
Cheering children - check. Military honour guard - check. Cannon fire and marching band - check.
Two visits. Two presidents. And just a few days apart.
Vladimir Putin is even scheduled to have tea with President Xi in the exclusive Communist Party headquarters later today.
This visit feels like a near mirror image of last week’s welcome for Donald Trump.
Beijing is eager to emphasise that Xi is someone the world's leaders want to meet.
We are already getting a hint of what is on the agenda with Putin.
The Chinese leader told his Russian counterpart that the world was in danger of reverting to the law of the jungle - a reference to the war in the Middle East. And he said the two should work together to promote a more just system of global governance, with no apparent reference to Russia's invasion of Ukraine which Beijing has refused to condemn so far.
Putin appears keen to discuss the construction of a major natural gas pipeline from Russia to China. He has already told Xi that Russia stands ready as a reliable energy supplier as the war in Iran causes a shortage in supplies.
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin were seen shaking hands and smiling after the conclusion of their short meeting.
Xi and Putin pose for photographs
Image source, EPABoth leaders are expected to attend an official signing ceremony later today. The presidents are expected to oversee the signing of 21 of them, Putin's aide told reporters earlier this week.
Among them, two documents will take center stage, says Russian state media. These are:
Xi Jinping says that the situation in the Middle East is at a "critical juncture" and is currently transitioning from war to peace, according to Chinese state media.
The Chinese leader added that an end to hostilities was "imperative" and a restart to the conflict would be "unacceptable".
"My four-point proposal for maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East aims to further build international consensus and contribute to easing tensions, deescalating conflict, and promoting peace," Xi said, according to Xinhua.
Xi's four-point proposal, put forward last month during his meeting with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, promotes peaceful co-existence, national sovereignty, international rule of law, and a coordinated approach to development and security.
Vitaly Shevchenko
Chief analyst, BBC Monitoring
Without Chinese money and technology, the very survival of Vladimir Putin's regime would be in question, and his war against Ukraine would be long over.
China is Russia's biggest trading partner, it's buying almost half of its oil exports - and President Putin needs this money to keep the Russian economy afloat, the war going and himself in charge.
Chinese parts are also vital for Russian weapons such as the ubiquitous killer drones attacking Ukraine. Chinese consumer goods - for example, cars - are replacing Western equivalents after their manufacturers pulled out of Russia over the war with Ukraine.
Even if China has not explicitly come out in support of the war, it has not used the levers it has to make it stop.
We're now seeing more lines on the two leaders' exchange earlier this morning.
According to Russian state media TASS, Putin, as he had before, called Xi a "dear friend".
The Russian leader also recalled a Chinese idiom – "Even if we haven't seen each other for a day, it feels like three autumns have passed" – typically used to describe an arduous wait for a significant event to happen, or for a goal to be achieved.
Relations between Moscow and Beijing have reached an "unprecedentedly high level", Putin said.
He also noted that trade turnover between Russia and China has increased more than 30 times over the past 25 years, according to TASS.
Image source, EPAChinese state media have also reported that the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia has been extended.
The strategic treaty outlines the basis for peaceful relations, economic collaboration, and diplomatic and geopolitical reliance between the two countries. It includes stipulations about military cooperation and defence pacts.
The 20-year treaty was signed in 2001 by Putin and then Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. It was extended for another 5 years after its expiration in February 2022, and has now reportedly been extended again.
Image source, APThe short meeting between Putin, Xi and their teams has now wrapped up.
According to the agenda released by the Kremlin, coming up now is a "wide format meeting" with delegations from both countries.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will also hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
We'll bring you more updates as they come - stick with us.
Now more of what Xi has told Putin, as reported by Chinese state media:
Xi tells Putin that the reason why China-Russia relations have reached this level is because the two countries have been able to "continuously deepen mutual political trust and strategic cooperation".
The current international situation is "complex and volatile, with unilateral hegemony running rampant", the Chinese president says.
"As permanent members of the UN Security Council and important world powers," Xi says, China and Russia should adopt a "long-term strategic view" and cooperate to build "a more just and equitable global governance system".
Image source, APPutin has also invited Xi to visit Russia next year, adding that relations between Beijing and Moscow are "helping global stability".
Xi last visited Russia in May last year.
Putin continues to say that the two countries' economic relations "show good dynamics".
Russia remains a "reliable energy supplier" amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, he says.
The Chinese and Russian delegations are meeting now in the Great Hall of the People.
Xi, in his opening remarks, tells Putin that the two countries should assist each other in development and revitalisation, Chinese state media report.
Putin says in his opening remarks that Russia-China relations are at an unprecedented level, Reuters reports.
Xi and Putin are currently holding talks at the Great Hall of the People. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place at 11:45 local time, or in about 20 minutes - but are happening ahead of time.
This has been described as a "narrow format meeting", typically a smaller meeting where more sensitive issues are typically discussed.It is expected to last around 15 minutes before the duo proceed with a larger-group meeting with their respective delegations.
Image source, APThe two leaders can be seen chatting, as they walk up the steps to enter the Great Hall of the People.
We're also seeing dozens of children jumping up and down, waving Russian and Chinese national flags, and cheering "Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome!" in Mandarin.
It's a similar scene to the welcome Trump received at this very spot last week.
Image source, ReutersThe two presidents are now walking down the red carpet, past neat lines of Chinese soldiers standing at attention.
The Chinese military band has just played the Russian and Chinese national anthems, as the two leaders stand at the centre of the square, before the Great Hall of the People.
Xi is now shaking hands with the Russian delegation on the red carpet.
