Beijing: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized their strong bilateral relationship during discussions in Beijing, as reported by China’s Xinhua state news agency. The two leaders underscored the resilience of their ties amidst global changes and expressed potential for further expansion.

According to Ghana News Agency, more than 20 cooperation agreements were signed between Russia and China, covering various sectors such as energy, aviation, artificial intelligence, and agriculture. Putin praised the relationship between the two nations as reaching an “unprecedentedly high level,” a sentiment echoed by the Kremlin.

While specific discussions on Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine were not disclosed, reports from Beijing mentioned that the leaders explored “regional issues of common interest.” Putin is set to attend a significant military parade in Beijing, alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

China has emerged as a key supporter of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, as Beijing has refrained from condemning Moscow’s actions and has echoed Russian demands in its proposals for resolving the conflict. In a demonstration of solidarity, Xi previously attended a Russian parade in Moscow marking the end of World War II.

Western nations have accused China of providing Russia with goods potentially used for military purposes, thus supporting the Russian arms industry. On the preceding Monday, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Xi and Putin called for a new world order, positioning the SCO as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO. Putin criticized the eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic model as outdated.