Xi and Putin reaffirm 'old friend' ties in the face of US challenges

Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as an "old friend" as the two began a series of meetings Tuesday at a time when their countries face both overlapping and differing challenges from the United States.

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Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Putin addressed Xi as “dear friend” and said that Moscow’s ties with Beijing are “at an unprecedentedly high level.” Following their formal talks, they planned to have another meeting over tea with some of their top aides.

The talks come the day after both attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the nearby Chinese city of Tianjin, and the day before a grand Chinese military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.