Chinese President Xi Jinping will make an official visit to Russia from June 20-22. This is Xi’s first visit to Russia since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 17th that President Xi Jinping will visit Russia. It will be his first overseas trip since he decided to enter an unprecedented third term as president at the National People’s Congress (National People’s Congress, equivalent to the National Assembly) held this month.
Xi is expected to discuss China’s 12-point proposal for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis last month. Most Western countries have dismissed the proposal, but the response from Ukraine, which has avoided worsening relations with China since the beginning of the Russian invasion, has been restrained.
The Russian president’s office also confirmed Xi’s visit. The statement said the two leaders would exchange views on “the development of unrestricted friendship and strategic cooperation between Russia and China.” He said he would also sign some documents, although he didn’t go into details.
Xi and Putin will hold informal one-on-one talks on the afternoon of the 20th, followed by an informal luncheon. It is said that the official meeting will be held on the 21st, the next day, and there is a possibility of holding a press conference after the meeting. Russia’s Interfax news agency (IFX) quoted Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Xi and Zelensky also plan to meet via videolink soon, said a Ukrainian official familiar with the preparations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleva on the 16th to discuss bilateral relations and the situation in Ukraine. There is also the possibility of a phone call between Xi and U.S. President Biden.
It will be Xi’s first visit to Russia since mid-2019. Putin visited China last February to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and the two leaders agreed that there were “no limits” to their friendship.
Original title:Xi to Visit Russia for First Time Since Invasion of Ukraine (1)
Xi, Putin to Hold Informal Talk Monday, Formal Ones Tuesday: IFX
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