Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China for a two-day visit on May 19, the Kremlin announced on Saturday, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a high-profile trip to Beijing.Putin will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on how to “further strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing,” according to a Kremlin statement.The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on “major international and regional issues” and sign a joint statement at the end of the talks.Putin also plans to meet with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Trump visits after trip to Beijing
The Kremlin’s announcement came a day after Trump concluded his first visit to China by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade. The visit focused on discussions of Taiwan, trade relations and the ongoing conflict with Iran.The Taiwan issue became one of the most sensitive issues during the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping. The Chinese leader reportedly warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push Washington and Beijing into conflict. Trump later said on Air Force One that he had not yet decided whether to proceed with a major U.S. weapons program against Taiwan after hearing Xi’s objections.Trump also said he and Xi Jinping discussed Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, with the US president claiming that Chinese leaders agreed that Iran should not have nuclear weapons and that the strategic waterway should remain open.
Sino-Russian relations have attracted much attention
China and Russia have maintained close relations since Moscow launched a military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022. Although Beijing has repeatedly called for peaceful talks, it has avoided condemning Russia’s actions and continues to describe itself as a neutral party.China has also denied Western accusations that it provides Russia with weapons or military equipment for use in the conflict in Ukraine. Instead, Beijing accuses Western countries of prolonging the war by continuing to arm Ukraine.China has emerged as Russia’s main economic partner in recent years, especially after Western sanctions isolated Moscow from many global markets. Beijing remains one of Russia’s largest buyers of fossil fuels, helping Russia sustain its economy under pressure from sanctions.During Trump’s trip to China, both Washington and Beijing talked about building a more “constructive” and stable relationship, although major differences over Taiwan, trade and geopolitical tensions remained unresolved.
