Russian President Putin to Visit China This Week

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Vladimir Putin will meet with Xi Jinping China this week on the Kremlin chief's first foreign trip for his new six-year term. The leaders will discuss the conflict in Ukraine and deepening trade cooperation and energy.

China and Russia arranged a no-limits partnership after Putin visited Beijing in 2022. Putin moved tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine days later, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.

The Kremlin said Putin will make a state visit at the invitation of Xi to discuss the situation in the Middle East, Asia, Ukraine, and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

According to CNN Hong Kong, Putin will arrive in China just over a week after entering a new term in office, extending his autocratic rule until 2030 – the result of an election without any true opposition.

Putin's newly appointed defense minister, Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov will attend an informal meeting between Putin and Xi on May 16th.

Ushakov told Russian news agencies that the leaders will have a one-on-one conversation, walk through the park next to the palace, and drink tea. Informal talks will take place during an informal dinner with members of the delegations from both sides.

Putin and Xi will participate in a gala evening celebrating 75 years since the Soviet Union recognized the People's Republic of China, declared by Mao Zedong in 1949.

U.S. President Joe Biden argues that an existential contest between democracies and autocracies will define this century.

Putin and Xi share a broad worldview, seeing the West as decadent and in decline.

During the visit, Putin will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade and economic cooperation. Putin will also visit Harbin in northeastern China, a city with strong ties to Russia.

Putin pivoted strongly to China after the United States and its allies tried to isolate Russia as punishment for the war in Ukraine.

According to Chinese customs data, China-Russian trade hit a record of $240.1 billion in 2023, up 26.3% from a year earlier.

Putin will bring a large trade delegation, including Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina. Others in the delegation include Sberbank CEO German Gref, businessman Oleg Deripaska, VTB chief Andrei Kostin, Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, and Novatek boss Leonid Mikhelson, Ushakov said.

China has strengthened its trade and military ties with Russia as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions against both countries. Russia has become China's top crude supplier, with its oil shipments to China jumping more than 24% in 2023 despite Western sanctions.

Sources: Reuters, CNN, ABC News

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