MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Oct 27) that Russia's relations with China were at an "unprecedented level" as he called China's President Xi Jinping a "close friend".

Moscow and Beijing signed a no-limits partnership just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation'&nbsp;in Ukraine in February, and Russia has sought to forge closer political and economic ties with China in the face of Western sanctions.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asiaone.com/world/putin-acknowledges-chinas-concerns-over-ukraine-sign-friction" target="_blank">Putin acknowledges China's concerns over Ukraine in sign of friction</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit (SCO) member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sept 16, 2022. 

VLADIMIR PUTIN

XI JINPING

RUSSIA

china

Politics

Reuters

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Oct 27) that Russia's relations with China were at an "unprecedented level" as he called China's President Xi Jinping a "close friend". Moscow and Beijing signed a no-limits partnership just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine in February, and Russia has sought to forge closer political and...

Putin says Xi is 'close friend', hails 'unprecedented' partnership with Beijing