Xi Jinping said Beijing was looking for even closer ties with Moscow while France's foreign ministry said the poll victory was tainted

Navalny was President Vladimir Putin's staunchest critic and had returned to Russia just three years ago after being treated for what Western laboratory tests showed was a poisoning from nerve agent

The value of bilateral trade between Russia and China surged to $21.18bn last month, its highest since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022

Analysts say BRI’s shift from investment intensive projects like dams to high-tech ones comes amid Xi's push to export Chinese ideas about governance

Putin has sent an emissary — Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov — instead, and Kremlin said he would “still play a key role in the main summit meeting”

Analysts say original target was China importing 38 bcm of Russia gas by 2025 – that has now jumped to 98 bcm by 2030

The two heads of state greeted one another as "dear friend" when they met in the Kremlin on Monday and held informal talks for nearly 4-1/2 hours

In an article published at the beginning of his Moscow trip, Xi said the two countries adhered to the concept of "eternal friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation"

Xi and Putin "will discuss topical issues of further development of comprehensive partnership relations," the Kremlin said

The crown prince stressed the need for a "peaceful solution ... that guarantees the interests and national security of all parties" in Ukraine

Asia’s stocks rose on Wednesday and oil prices stabilised with traders relieved to see sanctions imposed on Russia weren’t as serious as had been feared