Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday that relations between their countries were at an “unprecedentedly high level”, as the two discussed wider economic cooperation and foreign issues.

Speaking on a visit to Beijing, the Russian president called Xi a “dear friend” and noted their longstanding relationship on trade, saying turnover has increased more than 30 times in the last 25 years.

Putin insisted that Russia and China play a “stabilising” role on the world stage as the pair signed a joint statement for comprehensive strategic coordination.

He vowed that Russia was ready to continue exporting energy to China, as the Kremlin said an important agreement had been reached on energy.

Putin sought closer alignment with China as Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine overnight. Two people were killed and six were injured in the southeastern city of Dnipro as Moscow pounded the city with drones, missiles and artillery.

Meanwhile, Nato scrambled fighter jets in response to reports of a drone incursion in Lithuania. The country’s defence ministry said the drone flew near to Vilnius, pursued by warplanes, as the army told people to take shelter and closed the airport.