BEIJING - They have met more than a dozen times and stood shoulder to shoulder during Sept. 3 military parade here. But the once-vaunted relationship between the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and Russia's leader,Vladimir V. Putin, has come under strain as the economies of their countries have faltered.
New York Times: Friendship between Putin and Xi becomes strained as economies falter
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his China's counterpart Xi Jinping during their meeting in Ufa on July 8, 2015 ahead of the start of a summit of the BRICS emerging economies.
