Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Moscow’s close ties with Beijing during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
At a time when Russia and China are trying to deepen cooperation as the two countries are increasingly criticized in the West, their leaders met in the Chinese capital, where the Winter Olympics will open on Friday.
In a televised introduction to the meeting, Putin expressed confidence that Moscow-Beijing relations were “on the path to friendship and strategic partnership.”
The Russian president acknowledged that the partnership between the two countries was “truly unprecedented” and “an example of a dignified relationship”.
Prior to the meeting, Putin announced that Moscow had prepared a new agreement for the supply of ten billion cubic meters of natural gas to China from the Russian Far East.
Before the two leaders met, a Kremlin spokesman said Russia and China would sign a document outlining their “common views” on security and other issues.
On Friday, Putin will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Although Russian officials have been banned from attending international competitions due to the doping scandal, the head of the host country may invite them to do so.
Russian athletes who have proven that they have not used prohibited substances to improve their performance may participate in the competition as representatives of the Russian Olympic team without their national flag and anthem.
Beijing and Moscow have condemned the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics announced by several countries, which the West attributes to human rights abuses and oppression of minorities in China.
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