By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that finding solutions to the issues plaguing the Korean peninsula constituted a "joint foreign policy priority" for Moscow and Beijing.
Putin spoke during a joint news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on Tuesday.
"A comprehensive solution to the problems of the Korean peninsula is among the joint foreign policy priorities to ensure a lasting peace and stability in northeast Asia," Putin said, according to a Kremlin statement.
His remarks came after North Korea tested a suspected mid-range ballistic missile on Tuesday.
Pyongyang has been repeatedly sanctioned by the UN Security Council for carrying out rogue nuclear and missile tests.
"No matter how the external situation has changed, our determination and loyalty to the development of China-Russia relations remain unshakable and unchanged," Xi said.
Putin also awarded Xi the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle -- the highest in Russia -- for his contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the Kremlin said.