“Expensive good friend, please settle for honest congratulations on the event of your reelection,” Putin stated in a press release launched by the Kremlin.

“Russia extremely values your private contribution towards the strengthening of ties… and strategic cooperation between our nations.”

“I’m sure that working collectively, we’ll guarantee the event of fruitful Russian-Chinese language cooperation in all kinds of various areas. We’ll proceed to coordinate joint work on crucial regional and worldwide points.”

With Russia’s relations with the West reaching Chilly Warfare-era lows after Moscow despatched troops to Ukraine, the Kremlin has sought to shore up its ties with China.