Xi, Putin hail ‘stabilising’ relations in video call

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed their ties during a video call on Wednesday held in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Putin said Moscow-Beijing relations were an important stabilising factor at a time of growing global turmoil, and praised the two countries’ close energy partnership as mutually beneficial and strategic. Xi, speaking via an interpreter, called for the countries to work out a “grand plan” to further bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who also had an “excellent” phone call with Xi, said the relationship with China was extremely good.

They discussed China’s possible purchase of more agricultural products and oil and gas from the United States, Taiwan, the war in Ukraine and Iran.