Vladimir Putin will travel to China on May 19 for a two-day state visit, the Kremlin announced on Saturday, shortly after Donald Trump concluded a visit to Beijing.
According to a Kremlin statement, Putin is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on strengthening the “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between Moscow and Beijing.
The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on major international and regional issues and sign a joint declaration following their discussions.
As part of the visit, Putin is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade cooperation between both countries.
The announcement comes after Trump wrapped up the first visit to China by a sitting US president in nearly a decade. Despite a high-profile reception in Beijing, unresolved trade disputes and geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, remained key issues during the trip.
While Beijing has repeatedly called for dialogue to end the war in Ukraine, it has not condemned Russia’s military action since Moscow deployed troops into Ukraine in February 2022. China continues to present itself as a neutral party in the conflict.
Beijing has also denied allegations that it is supplying Russia with weapons or military components, instead accusing Western nations of prolonging the conflict through continued military support for Ukraine.
China has emerged as Russia’s most important economic partner since Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow over the war, with Beijing remaining the world’s largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels.
