Vladimir Putin to roll out red carpet for Xi Jinping as Russia and China seek to move closer in face of growing US mistrust
- Xi’s visit likely to see both ties trying to strengthen a key strategic partnership as trade war hits Beijing’s relations with US
- Meeting between two presidents is second in recent weeks, and they are likely to meet again at the G20 summit in late June
President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next month, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as China seeks to cement ties with its most important strategic partner amid its escalating trade war with the US.
The three-day state visit to Russia will start next Wednesday and was made at the invitation of Xi’s Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry.
During his visit to Russia, Xi will attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, Lu added.
This will be the second meeting between Xi and Putin in recent weeks since the Russian leader visited Beijing late in April, where the Russian leader expressed support for the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi’s signature policy.
This ambitious transcontinental trade and infrastructure development project has been the subject of increasing criticism and suspicion from the US and its allies, which are worried that it is will reshape the Western-led international system to serve Chinese interests.