Xi rolled out the red carpet for Putin, who arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit, signalling the deepening alignment between the two nations amidst Russia's ongoing advances in Ukraine, CNN reported.
Russia has intensified its disinformation efforts to discredit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and raised questions about his legitimacy in recent months, the US intelligence agencies stated, reported CNN.
Putin arrived in Beijing on Thursday, marking his first overseas trip since his re-election in March and his second visit to China in just over six months.
This is the fourth in-person meeting between Xi and Putin since the invasion and Putin's second visit to Beijing in that time. Xi also visited Moscow in 2023 after entering his new term as China's president.
The critically wounded prime minister is still undergoing surgery in the town of Banska Bystrica. The alleged shooter was arrested on-site and the area was evacuated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China on Thursday, marking his second visit in less than a year as the conflict escalates in Gaza and Ukraine, according to CNN.
The US is considering imposing sanctions on Chinese financial institutions, which are believed to be supporting Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, in a bid to suppress lifelines for Russian military production, reported Nikkei Asia.
Analysts have said that Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Serbia and Hungary demonstrates China's limitations amid the ups and downs in ties between Beijing and the European Union.
Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in overcoming the current challenging period with dignity and emerging stronger and said, "I am confident that we will pass through this difficult pivotal period with dignity and emerge even stronger."
At a press conference, the two leaders called for "a truce" in Ukraine and other global conflicts during the Paris Olympic Games. Xi and Macron also discussed China's ongoing support for Russia's leader Vladimir Putin.