Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China on May 19 for a two-day visit, hot on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
During the trip, the Russian leader will discuss with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping how to “further strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between Moscow and Beijing, according to a Kremlin statement.
Putin and Xi will “exchange views on key international and regional issues” and sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of their talks, it added.
As part of the visit, Putin is also scheduled to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
The announcement of Putin’s trip comes just after Trump wrapped up on Friday the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade, with the grand reception belying a roster of unresolved trade and geopolitical tensions, including over the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
While China has regularly called for talks to end the fighting, it has never condemned Russia for sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and presents itself as a neutral party.
Beijing also denies providing Moscow with weapons and military components for its defence industry, blaming Western countries for prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine instead.
As the world’s top buyer of Russian fossil fuels, China has become Moscow’s key economic partner, especially since Western countries imposed economic sanctions on Russia over the conflict.
