What’s new: Russia will host President Xi Jinping for a state visit from Monday through Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry announced Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Xi for the visit, ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement. It will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September.
The visit will also mark Xi’s first trip to Russia since the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Xi and Putin will discuss “topical issues” to further develop comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Russia and China, the Kremlin said in a statement Friday.
They also plan to exchange views on deepening Russian-Chinese cooperation and will sign “important bilateral documents,” the statement said.
The background: The announcements come just a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that China is concerned that the crisis is escalating and possibly “getting out of control.” Qin also said he hopes the parties will resume peace talks.
Beijing has said its relations with Moscow remain “mature, resilient and stable” after being tested by “international storms.”
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
Get our weekly free Must-Read newsletter.
