High-level reception! Foreign Minister Wang Yi personally greeted President Putin upon his arrival! On the evening of May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport via presidential aircraft, commencing his state visit to China. The reception was exceptionally high in protocol: our Foreign Minister Wang Yi personally awaited him at the aircraft stairs—a gesture that clearly surpasses the standard practice of having a deputy minister greet the head of state. This arrangement unequivocally conveys China's profound importance placed on its relationship with Russia.
During this visit, President Putin traveled aboard Russia’s presidential aircraft, the Il-96, flying directly from Vnukovo Airport in Moscow to Beijing—covering approximately 7,000 kilometers with a flight duration of around 8 hours. The long-haul flight spanned the Eurasian continent, and he arrived well past midnight Beijing time. At the airport apron, a red carpet stretched all the way to the aircraft stairs, military honor guards stood in perfect formation, the national flags of China and Russia fluttered proudly in the wind, and the military band took their positions to perform.
Minister Wang Yi led the core team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, waiting by the aircraft stairs. As President Putin descended from the plane, both leaders exchanged warm handshakes and brief cordial greetings, creating a solemn yet friendly atmosphere on-site. This visit marks the 25th time the Russian president has visited China—an enduring pattern of mutual high-level visits over decades, underscoring the exceptionally close ties between China and Russia. Such sustained and deep bilateral engagement is rare in world diplomatic history. We firmly believe this visit will proceed smoothly and achieve full success.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865632304405641/
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