Xi told Vladimir Putin change was coming when he left the Kremlin, after the two leaders showed off their unfettered friendship on a lavish state visit.
Shaking hands as China’s president left the Imperial Palace, Xi said through an interpreter:
‘Change is coming that hasn’t happened in 100 years. And we are driving this change together.’
‘I agree,’ said Putin.
“Please, take care, dear friend,” said Xi.
The Russian president stood for a moment on the sidewalk, waving, as the Xi limousine drove off on Tuesday, reports Metro UK.
His plane left Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, where it was seen by honor guards who played Russian and Chinese anthems, RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday morning.
After hosting Mr. Xi at a private seven-course dinner over four hours last night, Mr. Putin welcomed him to talks that included senior officials from the two countries.
Xi slowly made his way down opulent red-carpeted stairs in the Kremlin’s grand palace, while security guards wearing parade uniforms in the style of 19th-century Tsars snapped into action.
Putin was waiting to greet China’s leader at the Saint George Hall, which has walls lined with white-marble plaques bearing the names of units in the army and soldiers who have been awarded the Order of Saint George, a high military decoration established by Catherine the Great.
In a carefully staged ceremony filled with imperial pomp, the two leaders entered the massive chandeliered hall from opposite sides and clasped hands at center stage amid blaring Russian and Chinese national anthems.
They passed through the ranks of officials from the two countries and sat down for talks. Putin and Xi were dressed in black suits with deep red ties.
The pageantry of the visit, which was reflective of the significance of Xi’s three-day trip to Russia, gave a powerful political boost to Putin just days after The Hague issued a warrant for his arrest.
The international criminal court had accused him of allegedly taking thousands of children from Ukraine. Moscow, which does not recognise the courts jurisdiction, rejects this step as legally invalid. But the mandate has increased the pressure on Russia’s leaders even more, with fighting in Ukraine entering its second year.
Following their talks, Putin and Xi issued joint statements promising to deepen their strategic partnership even further, develop collaboration on energy, high-tech industries, and other areas, and expand mutual use of their currencies for mutual commerce in order to lessen dependency on the West. They said they would promote military cooperation and carry out more joint naval and air patrols, but did not address any potential Chinese arms deliveries to Russia, which are feared by the United States and other Western allies. Putin and Xi made lengthy statements following their talks before a select audience of officials and journalists drawn from their pools. They did not take questions.
Xi was staying in the Soluxe Hotel, a new hotel owned by the Chinese, which is located on the edge of a lush riverside park north of Moscow, which features trees and plants from across China. He used the Chinese-made Hongqi luxury sedan to get around Moscow.
