Putin and Xi Hail Growing Energy Trade at Their Meeting in Beijing

BEIJING, CHINA – Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed their strategic ties and growing energy trade as they met in Beijing Wednesday.

Putin and Xi oversaw the signing of more than 40 cooperation agreements in areas such as trade, technology and media exchanges.

They stressed their growing trade, particularly in oil and natural gas, and declared themselves aligned on international relations.

The countries’ ties have reached “the highest level in history,” according to president Xi, and the two sides also agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001.