Moscow: Even as the West is keenly watching, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for two days with pomp, according a state dinner.
The Putin-Xi summit comes as the Russia is desperately looking for more international support after being isolated following Ukraine invasion.
The meeting held on Monday and Tuesday saw both leaders arriving at agreements on several fronts that could irk the West, which suspects China as helping Russian war.
Putin and Xi Jinping hailed a "new era" in the relationship between two countries, with Putin adding that bilateral cooperation "has truly unlimited possibilities and prospects".
The meeting comes against the backdrop of an arrest warrant issued to Putin by the International Criminal Court over what it said Putin’s "unlawful deportation" of Ukrainian children.
One analyst Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, reportedly said the arrest warrant could increase China’s leverage over Russia.
Rather than getting embarrassed to be with Putin, Chinese President can have Russian leader ‘deeper into his pocket’, according to the analyst.
After China called for a dialogue to end Ukraine conflict, Putin said China’s peace initiative could help if both Ukraine and the West are ready for it.
Both the countries agreed to expand their relationship into security and military cooperation, an area in Russia-China ties that will upset the West.
In a joint declaration, both leaders expressed concern over NATO's growing presence in Asia while accusing the US of "undermining" global security.
The meeting saw both countries hammering out agreements on energy supplies and trade.
One agreement was on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to supply Russian natural gas to China.
However, analysts believe that the bonhomie has limits as President Xi Jinping will not align with Russia endangering its relation with the West.