Putin arrives in Beijing for a two-day visit

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing last night for a two-day visit, TASS correspondent reported.

Putin will stay in the Chinese capital on May 19 and 20. His work schedule is quite dense.

According to Kremlin aide Yuryi Ushakov, the highlight of the visit will be a tea meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin, which will allow the two leaders to discuss pressing international issues.

The tea ceremony with a limited circle of delegates will be preceded by Russia-China talks with delegations, a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, the opening of the years of intercultural education, a tour of the joint TASS-Xinhua exhibition on the history of relations between the two countries, and a meeting with young Chinese engineer Peng Pai, among other protocol events.

Putin was welcomed as an honored guest at Beijing International Airport.

National flags of Russia and China were raised in his honor, an honor guard was lined up, and a group of Chinese schoolchildren and students was present to welcome him.

He was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui, Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov, and high-ranking diplomatic officials of Russian diplomatic institutions.

After the short welcoming ceremony, Putin got into the presidential Aurus car and headed for the state residence assigned to him.

Putin usually travels in his own car with Russian license plates, even on trips abroad. This time was no exception. The presidential limousine was brought from Russia specifically for this trip, but its license plates were replaced with Chinese ones.