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China’s Xi in Russia for talks with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets China's President Xi Jinping prior to their dinner in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 3, 2017. Chinese President has arrived in Russia for talks focusing on expanding cooperation with Moscow just as tensions between U.S. and China have flared up. (Sergei Chirikov/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets China's President Xi Jinping prior to their dinner in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 3, 2017. Chinese President has arrived in Russia for talks focusing on expanding cooperation with Moscow just as tensions between U.S. and China have flared up. (Sergei Chirikov/Pool Photo via AP)

By Associated Press July 4, 2017 1 min read

MOSCOW (AP) – Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for talks on boosting ties between the two allies.

Xi’s visit comes amid a flare-up of tensions in U.S.-China ties and an anxiety caused by North Korea’s missile launch. The missile flew higher and farther than those previously tested.

Welcoming Xi Tuesday, Putin said they would focus on economic and international issues.

Before arriving in Moscow Monday, Xi warned President Donald Trump that “some negative factors” are hurting U.S.-China relations, as tensions soared over a U.S. destroyer sailing within the territorial seas limit of a Chinese-claimed island in the South China Sea.

Trump, Putin and Xi will attend the Group of 20 summit in Germany later this week. Putin and Trump are to hold their first meeting there.