Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in China for a two-day visit, where he will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Around 40 agreements are expected to be signed amid Moscow's growing dependence on Beijing, LETA reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a two-day visit, during which he plans to discuss further strengthening cooperation between the two countries with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Russian delegation includes ministers, high-ranking officials, and leaders of major Russian companies, including Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina, as well as the heads of Gazprom and Rosneft.
Putin and Xi's talks will take place on Wednesday.
According to the Kremlin, the parties plan to discuss strategic partnership, the international situation, and regional conflicts.
Particular attention will be paid to economic cooperation.
After the imposition of Western sanctions due to the war against Ukraine, Russia has become significantly more dependent on trade with China — primarily in energy, industry, and technology supplies.
In fact, China is now one of Moscow's main foreign economic partners and the most important market for Russian resources.
The Kremlin reported that around 40 documents are expected to be signed as a result of the visit. They will concern trade, transportation, industry, construction, and international cooperation.
Additionally, Moscow and Beijing intend to sign a joint statement on the formation of a "multipolar world" and a new type of international relations.
Putin's visit comes just a few days after U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to China. Although the Kremlin emphasizes that the Russian leader's visit was planned in advance, the timing of the meeting appears symbolic.
China is increasingly becoming a center of global diplomacy and a key venue for negotiations between the world's major powers. Xi Jinping is expected to inform Putin about the content of his talks with Trump.
In addition to official meetings, there is also an informal part of the visit planned for the Russian president. It is reported that Xi will hold a private tea ceremony for Putin, where the leaders will discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation around Iran, and other international issues.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing confrontation between Russia and the West and the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China, Putin's current visit may serve as another signal of further rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing.
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