As Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing Xi Jinping welcomed an “old friend”, hailing the “strategic guidance” the two countries had provided each other.
In comments to the cameras before behind-closed-doors talks, the two leaders spoke about global stability and solving conflicts like Ukraine.
But as they sat down opposite each other for talks on Thursday morning, it was clear that this was not all about peace.
Russian president Vladimir Putin had arrived with a coterie of senior security officials, including his new defence minister.
His former defence ministers, promoted to head of the National Security Council just a few days ago, sat by his side across the table from Mr Xi and his officials.
‘No-limits’ partnership
Putin’s visit to China underscores rapidly expanding military cooperation between the two allies that has alarmed western capitals.
Mr Putin and Chinese president Xi have made no secret of their willingness to collaborate together in a “no-limits” partnership to reshape the US-led global order.
Much of the United States and Europe’s concern has been directed at Beijing’s continued trade with a heavily sanctioned Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine, as well as a weapons technology alliance that has seen Chinese chips and machine components boost Russia’s war machine.
China has refused to condemn the war and backs Moscow diplomatically, accusing the West of undermining Russia’s security. Russia, meanwhile, has consistently emphasised support for Beijing on issues related to Taiwan, which China has threatened to invade.
Some analysts argue that China’s support for Russia helps draw attention and resources away from the Pacific - and the long-term security of Taiwan.
Russian and Chinese war games, including naval drills and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan, and ground force exercises on each other’s territory have also begun to change US calculations around the issue of Taiwan.
Air Force Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Pentagon’s Defence Intelligence Agency, said their cooperation in the last two years has caused the Pentagon to take a fresh look at its own analysis and “become even more concerned about what are our joint-force requirements” in the region.
A joint declaration released after Mr Xi’s three-day visit to Moscow in March said Russia “recognises Taiwan as an inalienable part of China’s territory” in one of its most explicit statements of support to date on the issue.
In early May, US defence officials warned the US Senate Armed Services Committee over Chinese and Russian joint military drills in the East China Sea near Taiwan.
Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, told US senators: “China definitely wants Russia to be working with them and we see no reason why [Russia] wouldn’t.”
Ahead of his visit, Mr Putin told China’s Xinhua news agency the meeting would boost joint efforts to strengthen the “territorial integrity and security of our countries” as part of a “strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.”
As for the full extent of what that means for military and geopolitical cooperation, the two autocratic leaders are likely to keep the West guessing.
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