Vladimir Putin says China’s Xi Jinping is ‘close friend’, hails ‘unprecedented’ partnership with Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia’s relations with China have been at an “unprecedented level” as he known as China’s President Xi Jinping a “close friend.”

Moscow and Beijing signed a no-limits partnership simply days earlier than Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February, and Russia has sought to forge nearer political and financial ties with China within the face of Western sanctions.