Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing for a state visit, four days after Donald Trump left China.

Putin was greeted by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, when he landed on Tuesday evening, with an honour guard alongside Chinese youths waving China and Russia’s national flags in a welcome ceremony on the tarmac.

The Russian leader’s visit to China – his 25th, according to Chinese state media – reflects Beijing’s growing confidence on the world stage as a centre of global diplomatic activity.

It also underscores the deep relationship between Putin and China’s leader, Xi Jinping. The two men have met more than 40 times, far outstripping Xi’s encounters with any western leaders.

William Yang, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said: “Hosting two of the most powerful leaders in the world in a matter of days shows China’s growing confidence in its place and standing in the world.”

He said Xi “likely wants to remind Trump that Beijing has other solid and robust relationships that it can count on, so Washington can’t easily isolate or harm Beijing if it tries to”.

The optics of the visit will be closely scrutinised and contrasted with Trump’s own trip last week. Xi is known for hosting visiting leaders over tea, but the setting and manner of such encounters can be viewed as a signal of the Chinese leader’s regard for his guest.