Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and the official Xinhua News Agency. Xi said Beijing will stay "consistent" in its position on the Ukraine conflict and keep promoting peace talks. Xi told Putin he is pleased to see Moscow and Washington maintaining dialogue and working to improve relations, a stance he said could help advance a political settlement in Ukraine. Putin briefed the Chinese leader on his recent contacts with the United States, including a meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff earlier in the week, Russian media reported. The two presidents reaffirmed the "strategic" nature of China-Russia ties and agreed to deepen cooperation across economic and security fields. The Kremlin said the call also covered preparations for Putin’s forthcoming visit to China for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.