Russia's Putin meets China's Xi in Beijing

Putin also said that the Russian oil business has "new solutions" on supplies of hydrocarbons to China, as they two sides discussed closer cooperation amid increasing tensions with the United States.

Russia and China are to discuss closer gas and financial ties during Putin's trip, the Kremlin said on Wednesday (February 2), and a long-held idea for a new gas pipeline to China is being examined.

A report from Chinese state television CCTV on Friday (February 4) afternoon said Putin had, like China, expressed opposition to the "politicization" of the Games.