Putin slams attempts to sour Russia-China relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced actions aimed at driving a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, stressing that China is a strategic partner, not a threat.

"We can see attempts to destroy the relationship between Russia and China. We can see that those attempts are being made in practical policies," Putin said in an interview with U.S. television network NBC published on Monday.

"We are pleased with the unprecedentedly high level of our relationship as it has evolved over the last few decades. We cherish it just like our Chinese friends do, which we can see," he said.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency