Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to discuss close foreign policy coordination amid growing concerns of conflicts with the West, AP News reports.
Their discussions encompassed trade and marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, an extensive infrastructure development project.
The two leaders reaffirmed their strong bilateral relationship, with trade expected to exceed $200 billion this year.
Notably, China has become a vital customer for Russian energy exports, serving as an economic lifeline against Western sanctions due to the Ukraine conflict.
The meeting comes at a time when China’s economy is slowing due to overinvestment in real estate.
