Beijing, May 20 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in the capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in the Chinese capital on Tuesday night to begin a high-profile two-day state visit, marking his arrival just days after his US counterpart Donald Trump wrapped up the high-stakes deliberations in China.

The Russian leader was received at the airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Mirroring the grand optics of the reception, Russian state news agency TASS reported that Putin had declared bilateral relations to have scaled "a truly unprecedented level" right before touchdown.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the comprehensive itinerary will see President Xi Jinping an...