Moscow never left the G8, as it partners who refused to take part in a Russia-hosted summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters during his visit to China.

Putin said disagreements within the G7 should not be overestimated, TASS reported.

“It is nothing unusual and should be taken calmly, without irony,” he said.

“Things happen,” Putin added. “If we take the EAEU [the Eurasian Economic Community], we also have debates and it is not so that everyone signs everything right away.”