Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin agree to bolster trade amid 'storms'
SHANGHAI -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday and agreed to further bolster trade relations amid growing pressure from the West.
The leaders issued a joint statement on "deepening the partnership of comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era." At a news conference, Xi described the essence of the relationship as "firm support for each other's core interests and major concerns."