Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have a virtual meeting on December 15, 2021. (Photo: kremlin.ru)

Xi suggested that China and Russia should make more joint efforts to protect each other's security interests. He urged the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to solidify their partnership to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, guarantee global peace and security, and boost economic recovery.

President Putin hailed Russia-China relations as a model of coordination between countries in the 21st century. Their bilateral ties are better than ever before, said Putin, adding that Russia wants to work with China in trade, oil and gas, finance, aviation, and space technology.