Kazan, Russia - October 22, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a warm welcome from senior Russian officials upon his arrival on Tuesday at the Kazan International Airport in the capital city of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.

Xi is in Russia to attend the 16th BRICS Summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Among the officials greeting Xi at the airport were Rustam Minnikhanov, head of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, Aleksei Pesoshin, prime minister of Tatarstan, and Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin.

A group of Russian women presented Xi with local specialties to welcome the Chinese head of state, who was given a Guard of Honor as he made his way on the red carpet.

Xi is set to attend small- and large-group leaders' meetings and the BRICS Plus leaders' dialogue, and will deliver important speeches. Xi will also have in-depth exchange of views with other state leaders on the current international situation, practical BRICS cooperation, the development of the BRICS mechanism and other important issues of common concern.

Xi's entourage, including Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, arrived on the same plane.

BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The upcoming summit is the first to be held after the BRICS expansion in January when Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were included into the bloc.

SHOTLIST:

Kazan City, western Russia - Oct 22, 2024
1. Plane taxiing;
2. Russian officials waiting for Chinese President Xi Jinping at airport;
3. Plane taxiing;
4. Russian women holding local specialties at airport;
5. Flags of BRICS member states;
6. Various of Russian Guard of Honor marching, standing in formation.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]