President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China next week for high-level talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his own trip to Beijing.
The Kremlin announced on Saturday that Putin will be in China from May 19 to 20 for discussions focused on strengthening political, economic and strategic ties between both countries.
According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss ways to deepen what Moscow described as a “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between Russia and China.
The two leaders will also exchange views on major international and regional developments before signing a joint declaration at the end of the meeting.
As part of the visit, Putin is also scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang for talks centred on trade and economic cooperation.
The trip comes at a sensitive moment in global politics, arriving shortly after Trump concluded a closely watched visit to Beijing the first by a sitting U.S. president in nearly ten years.
Although the Trump-Xi summit featured warm public exchanges, major disagreements remain unresolved, especially over trade tensions and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
China has repeatedly called for peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine but has avoided condemning Russia’s military actions since the invasion began in February 2022.
Beijing has also denied accusations from Western countries that it is supplying Moscow with weapons or military components, insisting instead that Western military support for Ukraine is prolonging the war.
With heavy sanctions from the West continuing to isolate Moscow economically, China has become Russia’s most important economic ally and one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Putin’s upcoming visit is expected to further underline the growing strategic relationship between both countries as tensions with the West continue to deepen.
