China And Russia Urge North Korea To Halt Weapons Tests

In a bid to cool tensions, Russia and China have proposed that North Korea declares a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests while the United States and South Korea refrain from large-scale military exercises.

The call was issued in a joint statement by the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries following talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The statement came after North Korea tested a missile that flew higher and longer than previous ones, sparking concerns around the world.

Moscow and Beijing suggested that if Pyongyang halts nuclear and missile tests, and in return, the US and Seoul freeze military manoeuvres, then parties could sit down for talks that should lead to obligations not to use force and to refrain from aggression.

In an apparent hint at the US, Beijing and Moscow spoke against the "non-regional powers' military presence in North-east Asia and its build-up under the pretext of countering North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes".

They specifically opposed US missile defence systems in the region, saying their deployment "seriously damages strategic security interests of regional powers, including Russia and China" and hinders peace and stability.

Mr Xi's visit to Russia came amid a flare-up of tensions between China and the US over an American destroyer sailing within the territorial waters of a Chinese-claimed island in the South China Sea.

Before arriving in Moscow on Monday, Mr Xi warned US President Donald Trump that "some negative factors" were hurting US-China relations.

Mr Putin hailed Mr Xi during their Kremlin talks as a "big friend" and presented him with Russia's highest award for his efforts to strengthen ties.

Mr Xi said "the Russian-Chinese relations are now the best ever".

After the talks, the two countries' officials signed several dozen agreements to bolster their cooperation.

Mr Trump, Mr Putin and Mr Xi are scheduled to attend the G-20 summit in Germany this week. Mr Putin and Mr Trump are to hold their first meeting there.