Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for the warm reception during his visit to China, Reuters reported.

In a meeting, Putin referred to Xi as his “dear friend” and praised the historically high level of strategic cooperation between Russia and China. He highlighted the depth of bilateral ties, describing them as exceptionally close.

Putin emphasized that their frequent and open communication reflects the strong relationship between the two nations, signaling continued collaboration on global and regional issues.

The visit underscores Russia and China’s growing alignment on political, economic, and security matters amid shifting international dynamics, according to Reuters.