Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday their two countries should be "friends of steel", as they pledged to boost cooperation to a new level at a time of heightened confrontation with the West.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping hailed Russia and China’s “stable and resilient” ties as he began talks with counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Moscow, a show of solidarity in the face of global uncertainties unleashed by US President Donald Trump’s “America First” diplomacy.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has stated during talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Russia will welcome Chinese production facilities on its territory. Source: The Moscow Times, an independent Amsterdam-based news outlet Quote from Putin: "Russia has become the world's main importer of Chinese cars.