Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday hailed ties with Russia as “conducive to peace” as he met with counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

It is Putin’s first trip abroad since his March re-election and the second in just over six months to China, an economic lifeline for Russia after the West hit it with unprecedented sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine.

Putin, who is seeking greater support from China for his war effort in Ukraine and his isolated economy, was greeted by Xi at a grand welcoming ceremony outside central Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, footage by state broadcaster CCTV showed.

The national anthems of both countries and martial tunes blared out as the two leaders met, kicking off a two-day visit by Putin that is expected to see the countries deepen a relationship they have declared has “no limits”.