It's currently just past 13:30 in Beijing, where Russian president Vladimir Putin is currently holding "large-scale" meetings with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. 

Putin told Xi that relations between Russia and China have reached “an unprecedentedly high level”.

We’ve heard this phrase before. Both Putin and his officials said the same during past visits to China in June and September last year.

But it always comes from the Russian side.

It is true that bilateral trade has touched a record high. But when it comes to language, the Chinese are more careful, even nuanced.

Xi calls his counterpart an “old friend” and has described their ties as “unyielding.”

The Chinese leader usually sticks to a careful script and will want to retain his upper hand rather than use soaring rhetoric about the relationship.

China is the partner Russia needs - and has the economic power and diplomatic clout to set the tone and the terms.

(Source: BBC)