China's Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin in Beijing, touted the countries' "unyielding" ties, and took a loosely veiled jab at Trump's policies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are close partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing.

Putin left Beijing with declarations of enduring friendship with China and a stack of bilateral agreements — but without the energy breakthrough Moscow desperately sought.