Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were to discuss Beijing's propositions to stop the fighting in Ukraine, as the Chinese leader arrived Monday for a landmark visit with his counterpart in Moscow.
China has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but Washington has accused Beijing of mulling arms exports to Moscow -- claims China has vociferously denied.
President Xi's three-day trip also serves as a show of support for internationally isolated President Putin, just days after a war crimes tribunal issued a warrant for his arrest over accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.
Beijing state media reported President Xi arrived Monday in Moscow by plane for the summit, which is due to include a discussion of China's 12-point position paper calling for dialogue and respect for all countries' territorial sovereignty.
"One way or another, issues raised in (Beijing's) plan for Ukraine will be touched upon during the negotiations. Comprehensive explanations will be given by President Putin" of the Russian position, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Vladimir Putin has welcomed Beijing's statements on Ukraine as being indicative of a willingness to play a "constructive role" in ending the conflict, while saying Chinese-Russian relations were "at the highest point".
-AFP
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