Xi welcomes ‘old friend’ Putin who lauds ‘unprecedented’ ties in Beijing | Business and Economy News

The two leaders’ meeting comes the day before a military parade marking Japan’s surrender in World War II.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has welcomed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as an “old friend” while the latter said their countries’ ties were at an “unprecedented level”, as the two began a series of meetings in Beijing seen as sending a message of defiance and strength to Western powers.

The two allies have sharp differences with the…