Putin and Xi Tout Trade and Political Ties in Video Call

Vladimir Putin, right, and Xi Jinping during a video call on Feb. 4, in a photo released by Russian state media.

Photographer: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping praised ties between their countries as “exemplary” in their first direct talks of the year.

“The foreign policy link between Moscow and Beijing remains an important stabilizing factor,” Putin said Wednesday in televised remarks from the two leaders’ video call. “We are ready to continue the closest possible coordination in global and regional affairs.”