China, March 17 (Press Ki Taquat), Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia this week. Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from March 20-22 following an invitation from President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said on Friday. The visit comes at a time when China is offering to mediate to stop the Ukraine war. Chinfing’s visit will send a message to the West regarding Beijing’s diplomatic support for Russia. “During the talks, they will discuss issues of comprehensive partnership relations and further development of strategic cooperation between Russia and China,” the Kremlin said.
Several important bilateral documents will be signed during Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia. China and Russia signed a “no borders” partnership in February 2022, when Putin was visiting Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics. This was just a few weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Since then both countries have made continuous efforts to strengthen their relations. After the war between Ukraine and Russia, trade between the two countries has increased. China, Russia’s largest oil buyer, is a major source of income for Moscow.
Xi is on his first foreign trip since the National People’s Congress (NPC) endorsed President Xi Jinping for a third five-year term earlier this month. There is speculation that the 69-year-old Xi, a close ally of Putin for the past 10 years, may try to start peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Xi is also expected to have a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
