Putin hails ‘unprecedented’ ties ahead of China visit hot on Trump’s heels

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia’s relationship with China had reached “a truly unprecedented level”, pledging mutual support on core interests including sovereignty and national unity just hours before his arrival in Beijing.

During his two-day trip, coming just days after US President Donald Trump’s state visit ended, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss economic cooperation as well as “key international and regional issues”, according to the Kremlin.

In a video address released shortly before his departure from Moscow, Putin highlighted the “deep trust” between the two countries and the strength of their economic relationship, noting that bilateral trade exceeded US$230 billion last year despite sanctions and the war in Ukraine.

Putin praised the regular summits he has had with Xi as “an important and integral part of our joint efforts to promote the entire range of relations between our two countries and unlock their truly limitless potential”.