Xi lands in Moscow to beef up 'no limits' Putin partnership

Chinese and Russian presidents to discuss Ukraine, Russia-US relations at a one-to-one meeting; Xi is to be the guest of honour at the May 9 parade among 29 other foreign leaders

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Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow on Wednesday for a key three-day visit including a grand Victory Day parade and a show of support for Viadimir Putin.

Moscow and Beijing declared a “no limits partnership” weeks before Putin ordered Russia's Ukraine offensive in February 2022. The expanded military and trade ties since have troubled the West.

The visit comes with rising China-US tensions over biting US trade tariffs, while President Donald Trump has also made overtures to Putin in a bid to mediate the conflict in Ukraine.

In an article for Russia's Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper published on Wednesday, Xi hailed “resilient” China-Russia ties and called for other countries to stay out of their relationship.

“The two sides should jointly resist any attempt to interfere with and undermine the China-Russia friendship and mutual trust, not be confused by temporary events or disturbed by the rough seas and use the certainty and resilience of China-Russia strategic cooperation to jointly promote the process of world multipolarisation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” he wrote. Xi's arrival was broadcast on Russian state TV.