President Xi Jinping said China and Russia are "true friends" who "support each other", state media reported.

Xi stressed that "history and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbours who cannot be distanced, and true friends who share misfortunes and woes, support each other and achieve common development."

Earlier, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported that Xi and Putin had held a telephone conversation "at the invitation" of the Russian leader, AFP reported.

Moscow and Beijing have stepped up military and trade ties since Russia sent troops to Ukraine, although China is trying to present itself as a neutral party amid the nearly three-year-old conflict.

It remains a close political and economic partner of Moscow and has never condemned Russia's actions, prompting some NATO members to brand Beijing an "instigator" of the conflict.

Both sides strongly emphasized the supposed strong personal relationship between Xi and Putin, with Xi calling the Russian leader his "best friend" and Putin praising his "trusted partner." | BGNES