Xi now standing at entrance of the Great Hall of the Peoplepublished at 04:08 BST 20 May
Xi is walking down the steps from the Great Hall of the People, getting ready to welcome Putin.
Summary
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will shortly conclude talks in Beijing - but their meeting ends without details on a natural gas pipeline between Russia and China
The previously agreed deal has been stalled for years, but the two countries reached a "general understanding" about the pipeline, an aide to Putin tells reporters
The agreement comes as the two leaders meet in Beijing and sign more than 20 agreements on trade and tech, as well as a declaration on a "multi-polar world order"
A lengthy joint statement mentions Russian gas supplies but otherwise does not indicate the leaders reached any major breakthroughs in Moscow and Beijing's relationship
Without Chinese money and tech, the very survival of Putin's regime would be in question, BBC Monitoring's chief analyst writes
But Beijing is being more careful with its language because Xi wants to appear close to Moscow, but not too close, writes our China correspondent
Xi now standing at entrance of the Great Hall of the Peoplepublished at 04:08 BST 20 May
Putin's car arrives at the Great Hall of the Peoplepublished at 04:05 BST 20 May
Putin's car has now arrived at the Great Hall of the People, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The Russian leader himself is due to appear shortly.
Military troops have already been standing in position, flanked by a flurry of Russian and Chinese flags.
We'll bring you the latest as it happens.
Trump was in Beijing just last weekpublished at 04:03 BST 20 May
Image source, Getty ImagesPutin's trip to Beijing comes days after US president Donald Trump paid a visit to Xi Jinping.
It was the first time in nearly a decade that a US president visited China.
That visit, which had been delayed by the Iran war, was heavy on pageantry but light on details about policy agreed by both sides.
Trump described the talks as "very successful" while Xi called it a "historic landmark".
But when it came to the key issues looming over the relationship between the superpowers - from the Iran war to Taiwan and trade - but few concrete agreements have been announced by both sides so far.
Trump told reporters that China had agreed to buy 200 Boeing jets - a deal confirmed by China's commerce ministry and Boeing. The White House also said China would buy at least $17bn worth of agricultural goods from the US - but China has not confirmed this.
A highly uneven relationshippublished at 03:47 BST 20 May
Ankur Shah
Editor, BBC Global China Unit
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesThe relationship between China and Russia is highly uneven, and any deals struck between the two countries will likely be on Chinese terms, says Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center think tank.
"Russia is fully in China's pocket, and China can dictate the terms."
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has become increasingly dependent on Chinese components for its war machine. Years of Western sanctions have also gradually pushed Moscow deeper into trade engagement with Beijing.
China is Russia's largest trading partner, while Russia makes up just 4% of China's international trade.
Moscow has few viable alternatives to Beijing, a buyer that offers a scale of demand and market integral to Russia's survival.
Were China to lower its trade with Russia, considering the breakdown of relations with the West, it would significantly complicate Russia's foreign policy objectives.
World leaders making a beeline for Beijingpublished at 03:37 BST 20 May
Image source, Getty ImagesBeijing has had a very packed diplomatic schedule in the last few months.
Apart from Putin and Trump, leaders from around the world have accepted invitations to China, while Xi and his officials have conducted far fewer state visits overseas.
Among the state leaders who have descended on the Chinese capital were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canada's Mark Carney, both of whom were seeking a thaw in strained bilateral ties.
Beijing has also welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Vietnamese President To Lam, among others.
A balancing act with the Westpublished at 03:24 BST 20 May
Laura Bicker
China correspondentPresident Xi wants to appear close to his neighbour and ally - but not too close as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put him in an awkward position.
China has refused to condemn Putin’s actions, while also trying to maintain ties with a West watching warily as the two stand side-by side.
Russia launched its full scale invasion in February 2022, just weeks after Putin declared a “no limits” partnership with China.
Economic ties between the two since the war have deepened and bilateral trade has now soared to record highs. China has also been accused of providing Russia with components it could use in the war.
In short, China could be providing Moscow with an economic lifeline.
Beijing will not want a destabilising war in Europe, Xi will want stability. But he will also not want to see Putin’s regime collapse.
And that is a tricky balancing act for Beijing to perform.
What's on the agenda?published at 03:11 BST 20 May
Authorities on both sides have not announced specific topics of discussion during the Xi-Putin meeting. But here are some of the key issues that may feature in the talks:
Trade relations between the two countries have deepened amid years of western sanctions on Russia. A key area of bilateral trade is Russia's massive energy supplies, including oil and gas.
The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which could finally be built after years of stalled negotiations, would deliver an annual 50 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to China - offering a boost to China's energy security, especially with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
The war in Ukraine, which is still grinding on, is also likely to feature in the discussions. Russia reportedly relies on Chinese exports - such as dual-use items and drone components - to sustain its military campaign in Ukraine.
China holds the official stance of neutrality in the war, calling for peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue. But it has also criticised Western sanctions against Russia, claiming they are "illegal and unjustified".
In pictures: Putin arrives for 25th official visit on Tuesdaypublished at 02:57 BST 20 May
Putin touched down in Beijing on Tuesday night, where he was welcomed by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and a military band.
This is the Russian president's 25th official visit to China. Here are some pictures of what went down at the airport last night.
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Putin was greeted by Wang Yi at the airport in Beijing
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, People on both sides of the red carpet, waving Chinese and Russian flags
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Chinese honour guards march in formation near Putin's aircraft ahead of his arrival
What is Putin doing today?published at 02:53 BST 20 May
Image source, Getty ImagesPutin, who arrived in Beijing late on Tuesday, has a packed schedule for his short two-day visit.
After being greeted by a grand ceremony in Beijing's central square, this is what is on his schedule.
- Bilateral talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and a wider delegation - followed by a ceremony where they sign documents
- A joint statement on "further strengthening strategic co-operation"
- Meeting a Chinese engineer that he had met as a child
- Meeting Chinese Premier Li Qiang
- Attending a photo exhibition with Xi on Russia-Chinese ties
- An evening reception
- And lastly, a conversation with Xi over tea
Watch: Best friends, or just politics?published at 02:31 BST 20 May
Are Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin best friends, or is it just politics?
Our China correspondent Laura Bicker and Russia editor Steve Rosenberg take a closer look at the duo, who have met more than 40 times - and the balance of power in their relationship.
Media caption, Friendship or geopolitics? BBC breaks down Xi and Putin relationship
Russian president Putin in Beijing for state visitpublished at 02:27 BST 20 May
Image source, TASSImage caption, Putin (right) was received by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Beijing for a state visit, where he is set to hold bilteral talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later on Wednesday.
Putin, who landed in the Chinese capital late on Tuesday, is expected to discuss "important and sensitive issues" between the Russia and China, according to the Kremlin.
Putin's trip - his first abroad in 2026 - comes days after US President Donald Trump's high-stakes visit to China, where he and Xi discussed a range of issues from the Iran war to trade.
China's foreign ministry says Putin's visit is meant to deepen bilateral ties and "inject greater stability and positive energy into the world".
Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates from the ground.