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By Kamila Aliyeva

Russia and China - the two eastern powers - reinforced their ties as Kremlin hosted a meeting of President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on July 4.

The two have been strengthening economic and diplomatic relations in recent years amid waning ties with the U.S., which has opposed Russian and Chinese geopolitical policies.

Trade between Russia and China grew 33 percent in the first five months of 2017 to about 32 billion, Xinhua reported ahead of Xi's two-day visit.

President Putin, welcoming the guest, said that he is satisfied by a significant growth in trade with China and plans to discuss both economic and security issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping, TASS reported.

The Russian president said Jinping’s official visit to Russia is "a key event in terms of building bilateral relations this year."

"I’m glad to note that if last year we saw a modest growth in trade, but still it grew - 3.9 percent, this year it is already significant – 37 percent in the first four months," Putin said.

"Economic issues have always been in the center of our attention, but we are not only dealing with this,” Putin aid, further stressing that the two nation are also taking steps to unite efforts on the international arena, in security area and fight against modern threats and challenges.

China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, and it is quite important for them to intensify communication and coordination in dealing with major affairs, said President Xi in Moscow.

“The two sides should strengthen cooperation, and steadfastly support each other in pursuing their own development paths and defending their respective sovereignty, national security and development interests,” added the Chinese president.

They also need to step up policy communication and action coordination on major regional and global issues, so as to tackle risks and challenges and promote world peace, stability and prosperity, he added.

The parties also have vowed to work together to peacefully defuse the deepening crisis over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. They agreed to jointly push for a proper settlement of the peninsula issue via dialogue and negotiation.

Vladimir Putin also presented Chinese leader Xi Jinping with the Order of St. Andrew. The ceremony took place in the Grand Kremlin Palace, where talks between the two leaders were held.

"This award shows that Russia recognizes your special contribution to the development of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between our countries, as well as to the strengthening of friendship between our peoples," Putin said addressing Xi Jinping and calling him his "dear friend." The Russian leader added that Xi Jinping "has always consistently supported close cooperation between Russia and China based on equality, mutual trust, openness and respect for each other’s interests."

Russia and China signed about twenty documents following the high-level talks.

In particular, a memorandum on cooperation in the field of information space development, an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of joint film production, an agreement on cooperation in ensuring sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population and sanitary protection of the territory, a memorandum between the Agriculture Ministries on further strengthening of cooperation in the field of agriculture.

A memorandum on cooperation in the development of international transport corridors Primorje-1 and Primorye-2, a joint statement of Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Chinese Ministry of Commerce on a joint feasibility study of the Agreement on the Eurasian Economic Partnership was signed as well.

Russia is the first leg of Xi's ongoing foreign trip, which will also take him to Germany for a state visit and the upcoming summit of the Group of 20 major economies.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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