BEST FRIENDS: Putin Receives Top Honor From Xi as China and Russia Start Forging Alliance
The news from Beijing. After the negotiations, Xi Jinping gave the Chinese Order of Friendship, China's highest state award for foreigners, to Putin. The Chinese leader called Putin a respected friend of the people of China.
"Under the Chinese Law on State Awards and Titles The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, is awarded the Order of Friendship of the People's Republic of China for his long-standing efforts and outstanding contribution to the establishment of friendly relations between China and Russia and the development of a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation".
- The Order of Friendship of the People's Republic of China.
President Putin: "I'm honored to receive this prestigious state award from China — the Order of Friendship. I know that the award was only recently instituted and that I'm the first person to receive it. I warmly thank my Chinese friends for this token of appreciation. I consider this a sign that China acknowledges and appreciates the Russian efforts to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership between our nations. Comrade President, my colleagues and I appreciate the ceremony you've organized in our honor. We see not only what you do, but also how you do it. It's a token of appreciation and respect based on our mutual national interests, the interests of our people and our personal friendly relations".