Russian president arrives in China for two-day talks focused on strengthening bilateral partnership and discussing global issues.
8:53 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China for a two-day visit on May 19-20, according to Kremlin officials. The visit comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing.
Putin will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the capital, holding Russian-Chinese talks in both narrow and expanded formats. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the program is expected to be highly intensive.
The two leaders aim to "strengthen even further the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation" and "exchange views on pressing international and regional issues," the Kremlin said in a statement. The agenda includes jointly launching cross-years of education and discussing major global matters "over tea."
Beyond his meeting with Xi, Putin is expected to hold several other meetings. He will conduct talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang focused on trade and economic issues.
Beijing has become the "epicenter of world diplomacy," according to the Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times, referring to a series of high-level official visits in which President Xi has served as host. The Putin visit follows Trump's recent presence in the Chinese capital.
Relations between Xi and Putin have strengthened in recent years. When Putin arrived in China in September 2025, Xi received him as an "old friend," according to reports.
Russian-Chinese strategic partnership relations, built over 25 years since the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, have been repeatedly described by both nations' leaders as exemplary for neighboring states.
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