BEIJING — Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday that their countries’ ties were at an “unprecedented level” during talks in Beijing ahead of a massive military parade.

“Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of Russian-Chinese ties, which are currently at an unprecedented level,” Putin told Xi in remarks on a pooled live feed.

In a nod to cooperation between the two countries during the war, Putin said, “We were always together then, and we remain together now.”

Putin tells Xi China-Russia ties are at 'unprecedented level'

Xi has embarked on a flurry of diplomatic meetings this week, including attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the northern city of Tianjin — a forum that China sees as an alternative to Western-dominated international cooperation.

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The Chinese and Russian leaders criticized Western governments during the summit on Monday, where Xi slammed “bullying behavior” from certain countries — a veiled reference to the United States, while Putin defended Russia’s Ukraine offensive and blamed the West for triggering the conflict.

“China-Russia relations have withstood the test of international changes,” Xi told Putin on Tuesday.

Xi added that Beijing was willing to work with Moscow to “promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system.”

Moscow and Beijing declared a “no limits partnership” shortly before Putin ordered Russia’s Ukraine offensive in February 2022.

The expanded military and trade ties since have troubled the West.

China has never denounced Russia’s war nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine’s allies believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow.

It insisted that it is a neutral party, regularly calling for an end to the fighting while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine.

Xi and Putin are in regular contact and held a phone call last month, with the Chinese leader saying he was pleased to see Moscow and Washington improving their relations.

Last May, Xi visited Moscow for Russia’s May 9 celebrations of the World War II defeat of the Nazis.

China and Russia “have continued to deepen political mutual trust and strategic cooperation... and injected valuable stability and positive energy into an international situation full of interwoven turmoil,” Xi said during his visit in May.