Putin, Xi congratulate Macron
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Despite tense relations, the Russian President and his Chinese ally congratulated President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election.
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Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election, the Kremlin said on Monday, as tensions over the war in Ukraine remained high.
"I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," Putin said in a telegram to Macron, the Kremlin added.
Macron was one of the few Western leaders to contact Putin since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, spending hours on the phone trying to reach an agreement.
While keeping diplomatic channels open with Moscow, France, under Macron, has joined the barrage of international sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the military campaign.
On his account, China's President Xi Jinping congratulated his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Xi said he would "like to continue working with President Macron to maintain diplomatic relations based on independence, mutual understanding, foresight, and mutual benefit," state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The Chinese leader went on to say that he has always viewed China-France relations from a "strategic and long-term perspective," stressing that the healthy and stable development of relations is becoming increasingly important as the global arena undergoes "complex changes".
World leaders, including those from the United States, the European Union, Australia, and India, have also welcomed France's centrist president's re-election.
