Putin will attend the third Belt and Road Forum after an invitation by Xi during a high-profile visit to Moscow in March.

Just days before Xi's Moscow visit, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin on grounds of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Moscow denies the allegations.

The Kremlin said that the warrant was evidence of the West's hostility to Russia, which opened a criminal case against the ICC prosecutor and judges who issued the warrant.

Patrushev, a close Putin ally, said Russia wanted to develop ties with China.

"Russia is committed to the progressive development and strengthening of Russian-Chinese relations," Patrushev said, adding that the two powers had a "comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation".

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