Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China next week, just days after US President Donald Trump concluded his trip to the Asian country.
According to Anadolu Agency, a report by the South China Morning Post, the visit is scheduled for May 20. The trip is part of Moscow's routine engagement with Beijing, and there are no expectations for an elaborate parade or welcome ceremony.
Neither Beijing nor Moscow has confirmed the exact dates of Putin's visit yet. Trump's recent visit to China was the first by a US president in nine years. During his three-day stay, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss significant issues such as trade, Taiwan, and the Middle East conflict.
Putin's upcoming visit will be notable as it marks the first time China hosts the leaders of both Russia and the US in the same month outside a multilateral setting. The last meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping took place on February 4 via video link.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Thursday that Putin would be visiting China soon. "We will announce them shortly. This visit is being prepared. One can say that preparations are already complete, with only final touches remaining. It will take place in the very near future," he said. Regarding potential Russian-Chinese contacts following Trump's visit, Peskov confirmed that Russian leadership anticipates engaging with Xi regardless of Trump's recent presence in Beijing.
On Friday, Peskov outlined that Putin's agenda will focus on the full range of bilateral relations and international affairs during his visit to China. "The agenda is clear - first and foremost, it's our bilateral relations, a special privileged strategic partnership, and a substantial volume of trade and economic cooperation, which consistently exceeds $200 billion," he stated. "And, of course, international affairs will also be prominently featured."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun mentioned on Friday that both countries are maintaining close communication regarding the preparations for the upcoming meeting between the two presidents. Further details are expected to be released in due course.
If Putin's visit comes to fruition, China will become the first country to host all four leaders of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council within months of each other. The UN Security Council consists of five permanent members: Russia, the US, the UK, France, and China. France's Emmanuel Macron visited China in December, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer followed suit in January.