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MOSCOW. – China was the first world power to react yesterday to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s re-election, vowing to push ties to a “higher level”, but Germany questioned the fairness of the vote and warned that Moscow would remain “difficult”.

Just a day after President Xi Jinping was unanimously re-appointed President, the Chinese leader said Beijing was willing to work with Moscow.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to congratulate President Putin, but the message would also raise “challenges” in their relations, her spokesman said.

Berlin and Moscow have “differences in opinion” on issues ranging from Russian politics to the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was more critical, saying: “We certainly cannot talk in all respects about a fair political contest as we know it.”

It was “unacceptable” that the election also took place in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine four years ago in breach of international law, Maas said.

“In this respect, we assume that Russia will remain a difficult partner.”

Poland also took up the Crimea theme, with the foreign ministry saying the vote on the peninsula was “illegal” and urged respect for Ukrainian territorial integrity.

In a phone call with President Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron wished him “success for the political, democratic, economic and social modernisation” of Russia. But he also urged President Putin to shed light on the “unacceptable” double agent poisoning.

The presidents of Venezuela and Bolivia congratulated Putin both using the same word, “overwhelming” to describe the victory.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated President Putin and the two leaders agreed to work together for North Korea’s denuclearisation, the Japanese foreign ministry said. – AFP.