Putin praises China's involvement in resolving Ukraine conflict.

Putin has welcomed China's willingness to play a "constructive role" in solving the Ukraine "crisis" in an article written for a Chinese newspaper on the eve of a visit by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. China has remained neutral in the conflict, while criticising western sanctions against Russia and reaffirming its close ties with Moscow. Putin said Russo-Chinese relations were at a historic high and they were coordinating their foreign policy to fight common threats as US attempts to contain both countries took on an "ever sharper and more assertive character".