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China-Russia relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin as ‘no limits’ partners mark 75 years of ties

  • Stronger China ties likely to be high on Putin’s agenda in Beijing as the West shuts out Russia
  • China-Russia ‘no limits’ strategic partnership has come under intense scrutiny by the US and its allies following invasion of Ukraine

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping raise a toast at the Kremlin in March last year. Photo: AP
Laura Zhou
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host Vladimir Putin when the Russian leader arrives in Beijing this week on his first overseas trip since starting his fifth term in office earlier this month.

It will also be Putin’s second visit to China since October and the latest display of the strong ties between the neighbours.

“Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will pay a state visit to China on May 16-17 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping,” China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday afternoon.

While China has not openly supported Putin’s invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, its “no limits” strategic partnership with Russia has come under intense scrutiny from the United States and its allies, who have imposed sanctions on Moscow and called repeatedly for Beijing to use its leverage to bring the war to an end.
How to further strengthen Russia’s strategic partnership with China, particularly economic cooperation in the face of isolation by the West, would be high on Putin’s agenda as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.

In a separate statement on Tuesday afternoon, the Kremlin said the two leaders would “discuss in detail the entire range of issues of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, identify key directions for the further development of Russian-Chinese practical cooperation, and also thoroughly exchange views on the most pressing international and regional issues”.

The Kremlin press service said a joint statement was expected to be signed, adding that the two sides would also be signing a number of bilateral documents.

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