Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to China on May 19 for a two-day official visit, the Kremlin announced on Saturday, coming shortly after US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.
During the visit, Putin will hold high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on strengthening the “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between Moscow and Beijing, said a statement issued by Kremlin.
Both leaders are expected to exchange views on major international and regional developments and sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of their discussions.
Putin is also scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade cooperation.
The announcement follows Trump’s recent trip to China, where he met Xi and claimed progress on trade deals, though no formal agreement was confirmed by Beijing. The visit highlighted ongoing global geopolitical tensions, including the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Washington has been leading efforts to mediate the war in Ukraine, which has now stretched beyond four years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged Trump to raise the issue during his talks in Beijing, AFP reports.
China continues to position itself as a neutral party, calling for dialogue while maintaining strong economic ties with Russia, particularly through energy imports. Moscow and Beijing have significantly deepened their partnership since Western sanctions were imposed on Russia following the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed the US-China engagement but emphasized that Moscow’s ties with Beijing remain “deeper and stronger than traditional alliances.”
