New | Embattled Putin gives ‘good friend’ Xi Jinping a warm welcome in Sochi
Two leaders vow to strengthen co-operation on trade and security
Facing high-profile snubs from the United States and Germany at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin saw at least one friendly face ahead of the Games opening – Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Xi is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Games on Saturday (at 12 midnight, Hong Kong time) on his three-day Russian visit – his first overseas trip this year and his first attendance at a major sporting event, China News Services reported on Friday.
In talks held upon Xi’s arrival at the Russian resort city on Friday, he and Putin vowed to strengthen Beijing-Moscow co-operation on energy, security and trade, Xinhua reported.
Xi welcomed Russia to participate in the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which winds through 24 cities from eight countries in Central and West Asia. The economic zone will be a new platform for the Sino-Russian co-operation, Xi said, according to the report.
Putin, meanwhile, said he was confident that trade between China and Russia, which has already climbed to US$87 billion, would reach the target of US$100 billion by the end of next year.
On security matters, the two leaders held a teleconference with the captains of the Russian and Chinese escort vessels on a multi-nation joint mission to guard the removal and disposal of Syrian chemical weapons.
