If Putin thinks this will keep China, with its huge population and expansionist tendencies, from being a threat to eastern Russia, with its small population and long border, more power to him. I have my doubts.
Putin is stark raving mad. The only nation on the planet that has serious designs on his, and he seeks to play pati-cake with it.
The guy can’t be unaware that the Chinese are occupying his Eastern territory, while he plays the fool in the West.