Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing late Tuesday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, amid growing economic and strategic ties between the two nations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed hope that Xi would use his influence to urge Putin to end the war in Ukraine, though he acknowledged no fundamental shift in Russia-China relations is expected.

In a video message, Putin described bilateral ties as reaching an "unprecedented level" and noted increasing trade. He emphasized that the partnership plays a stabilizing role globally.

Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly dependent on China, the world's largest buyer of Russian oil. Plans for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline via Mongolia are also underway.

China has refrained from condemning the invasion and advocates a negotiated settlement. Putin's visit comes just days after US President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing, highlighting the shifting geopolitical landscape.

Source: www.dw.com