Chinese president Xi Jinping on Wednesday told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin he was ready to 鈥榚xpand鈥� cooperation, as the two leaders exchanged congratulations on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, state media said.
Xi said China was 鈥榬eady to join Putin to constantly expand all-round pragmatic cooperation between our two countries鈥�, state news agency Xinhua said.
鈥楶ermanent good-neighbourly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation,鈥� Xi told Putin, according to Xinhua.
Putin has looked to the Chinese leader for support since Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the allies boosting trade to record highs as Moscow faces heavy economic sanctions from the West.
Moscow and Beijing both rail against 鈥榃estern hegemony鈥�, particularly what they see as US domination of global affairs, and declared a 鈥榥o limits鈥� partnership shortly before Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine.
Xi is set to attend a meeting of the BRICS countries in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan this month, where he is expected to meet Putin.
On Wednesday, Xi also hailed his and Putin鈥檚 efforts to deepen ties in recent years 鈥榠n the face of major changes unseen in a century鈥�.
鈥楶olitical mutual trust between the two sides has continued to deepen, practical cooperation has achieved remarkable results,鈥� he said.