Backgrounder: Important meetings between Xi, Putin in last two years

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Friday for a two-day visit to Russia where he will attend events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for WWII, and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin is the foreign head of state with whom Xi has met most frequently over the past two years. The following are important meetings between the two leaders since Xi took office in March 2013.

In late March 2013, Xi paid a state visit to Russia, the first foreign country he visited as Chinese president.

Both leaders agreed that the timing and conditions were ripe for the two countries to carry out large-scale economic cooperation, pledging to make full use of various cooperation mechanisms and invigorate collaboration on large joint projects of strategic significance.

They signed a joint statement on deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, which laid out the priorities of future bilateral cooperation and called for a new type of relations between the great powers in the international arena.

In September 2013, Xi met Putin in Russia's city of St. Petersburg prior to a Group of 20 (G20) summit there.

Both leaders expressed the hope that the two countries could accelerate cooperation on major strategic projects in such fields as energy and aviation, and continue to deepen military cooperation to meet new threats and challenges.

After their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents in such fields as energy, aviation and cooperation at local levels.

In October 2013, the two presidents met on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali, Indonesia. They vowed to work jointly to guarantee security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and further deepen bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, including energy and infrastructure.

They also agreed to hold activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War in 2015.

In February 2014, Xi met Putin in Sochi, south Russia, where he attended the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games at Putin's invitation.

The two leaders reviewed the important achievements in China-Russia ties in the past year, made strategic plans for bilateral cooperation in 2014 and reached important consensuses on the strategic coordination on major international and regional issues.

During May-November 2014, Xi and Putin held face-to-face talks nearly every two months.

In May, Putin paid a state visit to China, also his first China trip since Xi took office. Xi held talks with him in Shanghai.

Both leaders agreed that further facilitating the China-Russia all-round strategic partnership of coordination is an "inevitable choice" for the development of a multi-polar world, and called for promoting bilateral cooperation on major projects in the fields of trade, economy, investment, energy, high technology, aviation, aerospace, infrastructure construction and people's livelihood.

The two sides signed a series of cooperative documents in various areas, including a long-awaited, significant gas deal.

In July, Xi met with Putin ahead of a summit of BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, in Brazil.

They urged the two countries to take more joint actions in international affairs, jointly promote cooperation among BRICS countries, increase their say and influence, improve global governance, push forward democratization in international relations and promote world peace and development.

The two presidents vowed to make joint efforts to implement all reached agreements in an all-round and timely manner, chart the course of future cooperation, expand the scale of trade and investment, and pay more attention to cooperation in energy, science and technology, among others.

They talked about an early start of the negotiation on the China-Russia west line gas supply project, agreed to jointly safeguard cyber security, and enhance coordination under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the G20.

In September, Xi and Putin met in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, ahead of the 14th SCO summit.

Both leaders agreed that the bilateral ties currently maintain sound momentum, with cooperation in various fields progressing smoothly in accordance with the consensuses and agreements the two sides have reached.

They pledged to continuously push forward major cooperation projects in the fields of oil and gas, nuclear energy, aviation, finance and infrastructure construction, and strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs. They urged SCO members to enhance unity, mutual trust and cooperation, and promote the simultaneous advancement of security and the economy.

In November, Xi and Putin held a meeting ahead of the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing.

They reassured that China and Russia will enhance bilateral cooperation in the energy, high-speed rail, high technology, aerospace and finance sectors, jointly celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory of World War II in 2015, and that relevant departments of the two countries will be asked to implement the joint celebration plan in a timely and suitable manner.

The two heads of state witnessed the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation agreements, including a memorandum of understanding to develop the China-Russia west route natural gas pipeline and a framework agreement between China National Petroleum Corporation, China's largest oil and gas producer, and Russia's energy giant Gazprom. Endi