Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have reaffirmed the strength of Russia and China's strategic partnership. They met face to face for the first time since May as Donald Trump's warning against arming Iran remains part of the wider geopolitical backdrop.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday. Xi told Putin he was 'happy' to meet again, adding that bilateral ties between Beijing and Moscow had grown 'more solid'.
