Putin meets Chinese premier as relations deepen

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia (Alexey Filippov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, hailing growing trade relations as Moscow becomes increasingly dependent on Beijing for political and economic support.

“Our trade relations are developing, developing successfully… the attention that the governments of the two countries on both sides are paying to trade and economic ties is yielding results,” Mr Putin said at the meeting in the Kremlin.