Putin to hold talks with Chinese presidential aide
Meeting shows Russia's desire to keep close ties with China, amid strained relations with West
President Vladimir Putin will meet a close aide to President Xi Jinping on Thursday, the Kremlin said, underlining Russia’s increased effort to establish closer ties with Beijing as its relations with the West have deteriorated.
The meeting with Li Zhanshu, head of the General Office of the Communist Party, will take place with relations between Moscow and the West at their worst since the Cold War.
The European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Russia over its role in the Ukraine separatist conflict.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said this week President Xi had confirmed he would visit Moscow on May 9 to join in commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war in Europe.
Other leaders, mainly from Asia, former Soviet republics and Latin America, will also attend.
China has yet to confirm Xi’s visit in May.
Xi has made a big public show of underscoring the importance of ties with Russia and Moscow was the first capital he visited after assuming the presidency in 2013.