Putin to visit China next month

Russian President Putin will visit Beijing next month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and to attend the Belt and Road Forum.

"We expect in-depth talks between President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in October," Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, said during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow today.

President Putin will attend the Belt and Road Forum at the invitation of Mr. Xi, marking the third time he has attended the event.

According to Mr. Patrushev, the West's efforts to contain Russia and China will only make the two countries more cooperative. Mr. Wang is on a four-day visit to Russia to discuss regional security as well as issues related to the Ukraine solution.

"Russia is committed to promoting and strengthening Russia-China relations," Patrushev said, adding that the two countries have a "comprehensive partnership of strategic cooperation."

Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on July 29. Photo: AFP — Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on July 29. Photo: *AFP*

President Vladimir Putin last visited China in February 2022, for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, weeks before Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine. The Kremlin leader attended the Belt and Road Forum in China in 2017 and 2019.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Mr Putin has been travelling mainly to former Soviet countries for conferences. The October trip will be the Russian president’s first overseas trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him. Neither China nor Russia is a member of the ICC.

Russia and China agreed on an “unlimited” strategic partnership in February 2022. The two sides have since repeatedly reaffirmed the strength of their relationship, with bilateral trade increasing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow in March for talks with President Putin. The two leaders hailed a “new era” in bilateral relations and discussed Beijing’s proposals to help end the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in Beijing at the end of May, becoming the highest-ranking Russian official to visit China since Moscow launched its operation in Ukraine. During the visit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Mishustin that Beijing was ready to cooperate to bring bilateral relations to a new level.

Experts say Russia and China are drawing closer amid growing tensions with the West. Many Western officials say the partnership with China is one of the key factors helping Russia withstand an unprecedented wave of sanctions.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters )

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