China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Tuesday for bilateral talks.

In his opening remarks in the meeting with Xi, flanked by large delegations, Putin addressed Xi as "dear friend" and stressed that Moscow's ties with Beijing are "at an unprecedentedly high level."

"The memory of being brothers-in-arms, trust, mutual assistance, firmness in defending common interests formed the basis of of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China in the new era. We were always together then, we remain together now," Putin concluded.

Putin was China for the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin.

He will attend a major parade Wednesday in Beijing that will showcase China's missiles, fighter jets and other military hardware — some on public view for the first time.

Troops will march in lockstep by Xi, who leads the long-ruling Communist Party and heads the military as the chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Xi will deliver a speech at the event, which marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The audience includes about two dozen foreign leaders from countries seeking to improve or maintain relations with the government in Beijing.