Xi states Chinese-Russian ties 'best in history'

Beijing and Moscow are enjoying the best bilateral relations they have ever seen, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

His remarks came ahead of his two-day official visit to Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, where Xi will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Saying that Beijing and Moscow are each other's "most trustworthy strategic partner," Xi added: "Chinese-Russian relations are at their best time in history."

Xi said he hoped his visit would bring impetus to developing ties between the two countries.

Energy, trade, high technology, and finance are among the fields where Xi says Beijing wants more cooperation.

According to a Kremlin statement, the two leaders will ink a number of bilateral agreements following the talks.

CHINA, RUSSIA 'STEADFASTLY' AGAINST THAAD
Xi warned that the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system -- Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) -- in South Korea would "gravely" harm the security interests of China, Russia, and regional countries.

"Beijing and Moscow are steadfastly opposed to the THAAD deployment and seriously suggest that relevant countries stop and cancel the installation," Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Xi added that China and Russia would take necessary measures, either jointly or separately, to protect their interests.

He said the two countries are communicating "closely" on the issue.

To reduce tensions, China, as North Korea's main backer, has called for an end to U.S.-South Korean military maneuvers as well as to the north's nuclear program.

Russia, for its part, has warned a "new destructive" factor is emerging in the Asia Pacific region, where an already tense security situation could worsen and trigger an arms race.