BEIJING — Huawei Technologies has signed an agreement with the Russian telecom company MTS to develop next-generation “5G” networks.

The deal was signed Wednesday in Moscow, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin looked on.

China has been championing Huawei, the world’s biggest telecoms gear provider, as a national star as the company fights U.S. pressure on many countries to exclude it from nascent 5G networks. U.S. officials say Huawei is a security risk.

MTS said in a statement that it plans to work with Huawei on developing 5G technologies.

Xi is on a state visit to Russia as the two countries grow increasingly close while each contends with friction with the U.S. He also will attend a major investment conference in St. Petersburg on Friday.