49 deals cement partnership

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A record-breaking 49 agreements were reached between Beijing and Moscow on Tuesday, covering political, trade and military areas in a move to further strengthen the Sino-Russian partnership.

President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin also issued a joint statement on the future of bilateral relations.

The two countries would expand local currency settlement for bilateral trade, cross-border investment and financing, and strengthen exchanges to formulate macro-economic policies, the statement said.

Putin, who is visiting Shanghai for an Asian security summit, is accompanied by a huge delegation of high-ranking officials and business leaders.

It was the seventh time Xi and Putin had met since they both became heads of state more than ayear ago.

Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary on Tuesday that the frequent top-level meetings indicate increasing friendly ties between Beijing and Moscow and deepening friendship between the two leaders - two cornerstones for the development of Sino-Russian relations.

Xi announced the agreements during a joint news conference after talks with Putin.

Although a long-awaited natural gas deal remained to be signed, both sides vowed to continue efforts.

The total value of the deals signed remained unclear, but Putin's presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told ITAR-TASS news agency that the package would set a record.

The 49-deal package includes cooperation in the finance, energy, infrastructure and high-tech sectors.

Questions:

1. President Xi and Russian President Putin issued a joint statement Tuesday on what?

2. How many times have Xi and Putin met since becoming president of their countries?

3. Who is Putin’s presidential aide?

Answers:

1. The future of bilateral relations.

2. Seven.

3. Yuri Ushakov.

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.