The leaders of Russia and China hailed increasingly close ties between their countries and announced the extension of a 20-year-old friendship treaty on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping announced the extension of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship, signed in July 2001, a show of unity amid their tensions with the West. Speaking to Xi Jinping during a video call, Putin said that the treaty helped take relations between Moscow and Beijing to an 'unprecedented height' and would be extended for another five years. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured on the screen) announced the extension of a 20-year-old friendship treaty between the countries on MondayThe Russian leader noted that the coordination of foreign policy efforts by Russia and China has played a 'stabilizing role in global affairs.' Xi in his opening remarks emphasized the importance of a 'strategic cooperation' between Moscow and Beijing in defending their common interests on the global stage.

Source: Daily Mail June 28, 2021 18:52 UTC