The leaders of Russia and China addressed the conflict in Ukraine during a closely watched meeting in Beijing on Thursday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping saying that both countries see "a political agreement as the right way" to end the war.
The war in Ukraine has isolated President Vladimir Putin's Russia from the West, but China - the world's second-largest economy - remains the Kremlin's strongest ally.
Beijing has so far not condemned the war launched by Moscow in February 2022, and has maintained what it regards as a neutral stance.
However, China has given Russia key backing in the UN Security Council, and is an important trading partner for Moscow. Germany, the US and other supporters of Ukraine accuse Beijing meanwhile of not exerting enough pressure on Russia and even indirectly supporting Moscow's invasion of its neighbour.
There are also accusations that Chinese goods deliveries are supporting Russia's arms industry. The United States has placed some Chinese companies on sanctions lists.
Xi said on Thursday that China hopes peace and stability will soon be restored in Europe, and that Beijing is prepared to play a constructive role.
Putin thanked China for initiatives that he said were helping to resolve the conflict. Over a year ago, the Chinese government presented a 12-point peace plan. However, the proposals remained vague and prompted international criticism for not calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops, for example.
Beijing has not yet committed to the upcoming peace conference in Switzerland, which Russia is not attending.
Xi greets Putin as 'oldfriend'
Putin and his delegation arrived in Beijing early on Thursday. After talks with Xi, he plans to travel to the northern Chinese industrial city of Harbin and visit a Russian-Chinese trade fair there.
It is Putin's first trip abroad since the start of his fifth term in office just over a week ago. While in China he expects to conclude several co-operation agreements.
The choice of Beijing as the first destination for Putin is also symbolic, as Russia was the first country Xi visited after taking office for a third term. The two nuclear powers have close economic ties.
Russia is affected by far-reaching sanctions imposed by the West as a result of its war against Ukraine and needs China as a trading partner.
As he greeted Putin, Xi congratulated his "old friend" on his fifth term in office and expressed confidence that Russia's development would make "great progress" under him.
According to state media reports, the Chinese leader did not mention the war against Ukraine in his welcoming speech. Xi said that China-Russia relations had become stronger and had withstood the "test of a changing international landscape."
