Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to China on May 19 and 20, the Kremlin announced on Saturday in a press release, quoted by AFP.
During this visit, which will take place just a few days after that of US President Donald Trump, the Russian leader will discuss with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ways to “further strengthen the global partnership and strategic cooperation” between Russia and China, the Kremlin said.
Putin and Xi will “exchange views on the main international and regional files” and sign a joint statement at the end of the talks, the statement added.
A meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is also planned during this visit.
Beijing considers Moscow a priority partner in shaping a new post-Western multipolar world order.
Although China regularly calls for peace negotiations and respect for the territorial integrity of all countries – including, by implication, Ukraine – it has never condemned Russia for the offensive launched in February 2022 and presents itself as a neutral party.
It denies allegations that it supplies lethal weapons to one side or the other and supplies military components to Russia for its defense industry. She blames the West for prolonging hostilities by arming Ukraine.
A key economic partner of Russia, China is the world's number one buyer of Russian fossil fuels, including petroleum products, thus fueling the war machine.
Vladimir Putin will travel to China just a few days after his American counterpart Donald Trump, who has been imposing himself as a mediator in the Ukrainian conflict for over a year.
Trump left China on Friday touting “fantastic” trade deals but signaling no progress on disagreements with global implications such as war with Iran at the end of a two-day summit with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
