Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were filmed exchanging warm farewells at the end of a two-day meeting in Moscow, which ended yesterday. When leaving, the Chinese leader told Putin that "geopolitical changes are underway in the world."

The two leaders called for "responsible dialogue" to resolve the Ukraine crisis, with Xi acknowledging that Beijing and Moscow had signed an agreement that ushers their ties into a "new era" of cooperation.

"A change is coming right now that we haven't seen in 100 years - and we are the ones who are driving these changes together," Xi told Putin as he stood outside the Kremlin gates. The Russian president replied: "I agree."

"Right now there are changes, the likes of which we haven't seen for 100 years," Mr. Xi told Mr. Putin through an interpreter after the state dinner as the leaders bid farewell. "And we are the ones driving these changes together." pic.twitter.com/0Q9cGfWLKl

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Xi then reached out to shake Putin's hand and told him: "Please take care, dear friend." Putin responded with only: "Have a good trip."

In the absence of progress regarding Ukraine, the summit was primarily aimed at demonstrating the strength of relations between Russia and China, in the context of growing tensions between these countries and the West, reports Agence France-Presse.

In a joint statement with Cold War undertones, the two leaders attacked the West, accusing the United States of "undermining" international security to maintain its "military advantage" and expressed "concern" about NATO's growing presence in Asia.

Xi's trip to Moscow was an important endorsement of the Russian head of state, who has been the target of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) since last week. The Chinese president's visit to Russia also comes at a time when Moscow is largely reorienting its economy toward China amid Western sanctions.