Putin Holds Talks with Xi in Beijing, Hails Ties with China

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the unprecedented close ties between Russia and China in a meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday.

Putin held a meeting with Xi ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, marking Xi's first face-to-face meeting with a world leader in nearly two years.

Moscow's relations with Beijing are of an "unprecedented nature and an example of a dignified relationship," Putin said in televised remarks as the two countries deepen ties in the face of increasing criticism from the West.

The two leaders will attend the Olympic opening ceremony in the evening.

Putin was the first foreign leader to confirm his presence at the Olympics.

"I have known President Xi Jinping for a long time," CCTV quoted Mr Putin as saying in a report today.

"As good friends and politicians who share many common views on solving world problems, we have always maintained close communication."

Furthermore, China's state-run Xinhua news agency carried an article from the Russian leader in which he wrote: "Foreign policy coordination between Russia and China is based on close and coinciding approaches to solving global and regional issues."

The Russian leader also hit out at US-led Western diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Olympics that were sparked by China's human rights record.

"Sadly, attempts by a number of countries to politicise sports for their selfish interests have recently intensified," he wrote, calling such moves "fundamentally wrong".