Russia, China Extend Friendship and Cooperation Treaty: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) attend the Tsinghua University's ceremony at Friendship Palace in Beijing, China, on April 26, 2019. Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Pool/Getty Images

MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday announced the extension of a 20-year-old friendship and cooperation treaty between their countries, both of which have strained ties with the West.

Putin said the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship, signed in 2001, would be automatically extended for another five years after it expires in February 2022.