Xi Jinping will travel to Russia for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Monday. The Chinese president speaks to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about, among other things, the war and cooperation between their countries. The state visit will last until Wednesday.
Xi was last in Russia in mid-2019. Putin visited China early last year. That was just before his army invaded Ukraine. The Russian president then attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
He and Xi entered into a “borderless” partnership. The two met again last September at a regional summit in Uzbekistan.
According to the Kremlin, this time the heads of state are talking about strengthening the partnership and their “strategic cooperation”.
They are also expected to discuss China’s peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. Kyiv has rejected this.
Xi would also like to talk to Ukrainian president
According to international media, Xi also wants to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the visit to Russia. China has not confirmed this.
Beijing is trying to be a neutral party on the war in Ukraine, but critics say China tacitly approves of the Russian invasion.
