Warmer ties between the two countries have been highly-publicized in Russian and Chinese state media in recent months, including an interview on Chinese state TV last week when Putin spoke glowingly of President Xi Jinping. Russia's President Vladimir Putin reviews a military honour guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, June 8. Putin has been effusive in his praise for President Xi, most recently in an exclusive interview on Chinese state television. "President Xi is the only state leader who has celebrated my birthday with me ... we just had some vodka together and carved some sausage," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen in 2017.

Source: CNN June 08, 2018 05:44 UTC