What’s new: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow Monday afternoon and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the beginning of a three-day visit to Russia, China’s Xinhua News Agency reported.
The visit, at the invitation of Putin, marks Xi’s first trip to Russia since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin welcomed Xi at the Kremlin. The two spoke briefly to the press before an “informal meeting,” which was to be followed by a dinner. The leaders touted the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Putin also told Xi in televised comments that Russia is ready to discuss Beijing's proposals for resolving the war in Ukraine.
Background: The meeting between Xi and Putin is their first in-person conference since a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September.
Xi and Putin are set to discuss “topical issues” to further develop a comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Russia and China, according to a statement last week by the Kremlin. They also plan to exchange views on deepening Russian-Chinese cooperation and will sign “important bilateral documents.”
Xi’s trip is closely watched as the war in Ukraine is expected to be a key point of discussion. In an article published in Russia’s state newspaper before the trip, Xi said his position on a settlement of the war in Ukraine “reflects the broadest common understanding of the international community on the crisis.”
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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