Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is going to travel to China in May this year for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Reuters reports this with reference to five separate sources, according to Komersant ukrainskyi
This could be the first foreign trip of the Kremlin head in his new presidential term.
“Putin will visit China,”
– one of the sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters.
The details were independently confirmed by four other sources, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another source said Putin’s trip to China is likely to take place in the second half of May. Two sources said Putin’s visit would take place before Xi Jinping’s planned trip to Europe.
The Kremlin, when asked about the Reuters report, said that information about Putin’s visits would be made public closer to the date.
“We are preparing several presidential visits and several high-level contacts. We will inform you as we get closer,”
– kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China and Russia announced an “unlimited” partnership in February 2022, when Putin visited Beijing days before he sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II.
China has strengthened its trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on both countries, particularly on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign diplomats and observers said they expected Putin to make his first stop in China after being re-elected. Putin is to be officially inaugurated as president around 7 May.
Putin told reporters on Sunday that Russia and China share similar global perspectives and have a stable relationship in part due to his good personal relationship with Xi, and that Moscow and Beijing will continue to develop ties in the coming years.
It is worth noting that Li Hui, the Special Representative of the People’s Republic of China for Eurasia, visited Kyiv on 7 March as part of his shuttle diplomacy tour.
The visit was part of the Chinese special envoy’s trip to Europe to “seek a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis”. The special envoy started his tour in Moscow.
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