Russian President Vladimir Putin, a long-time friend, has arrived in China on a two-day state visit. China and Russia have been trying to forge deeper ties amid the more than two-year war in Ukraine.

Al Jazeera reported that the Russian president visited China just days after a major attack in Ukraine’s northeastern state of Kharkiv. It is claimed that Russian forces have penetrated within 1,000 kilometers of Kiev’s front line. Russian forces are taking advantage of the delay in receiving arms supplies from the United States to Ukraine.

Before Russia launched an attack on Ukraine in 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China’s relationship with Moscow has no limits. Then Xi visited Moscow in March 2023. At that time, he said that the relations between Russia and China have entered a new chapter. Last October, the Russian President visited China. The two leaders have met 42 times in the last decade. Through this, their deep friendship has emerged.

According to the Reuters report, Putin arrived in Beijing on Thursday morning. It is expected that the relationship between China and Russia, the rivals of the United States in terms of geopolitics, will reach deeper.

Chinese media described Putin’s state visit as a visit by an old friend. The 71-year-old Putin is making his first state visit since being sworn in for a fifth term as president.

According to Chinese state media, Putin will discuss the industrial and technology sector with Xi Jinping during this visit.