Xi Jinping, the Chinese President will be in Russia next week for a state visit after he was invited by President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said on Friday. The two-day trip starting on Monday comes as China offers to broker peace in Ukraine, an effort that has been met with skepticism in the West given China’s diplomatic support for Russia.
During the talks, they will discuss topical issues of further development of comprehensive partnership relations and strategic cooperation between Russia and China. A number of important bilateral documents will be signed.”
the Kremlin said.
China and Russia struck a “no limits” partnership in February 2022, when Putin was visiting Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics, a few weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
China and Russia have since continued to reaffirm the stability of their relations. Trade between the two countries has soared since the invasion, and China is Russia’s giant consumer of oil, an essential source of income for Russia. But in recent weeks, China has been attempting to play a negotiator between Russia and Ukraine.
On February 24, exactly a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, China released a 12-point position paper on the war, in which it called for a ceasefire and discussions between the two parties.
This week, China also proposed to negotiate between Russia and Ukraine on the Black Sea grain deal, which is due to be extended. And on Thursday, in an irregular phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, China’s foreign minister said China is concerned about the year-old grinding battle turning out of control and suggested talks on a political solution with Moscow.
Qin Gang told Dmytro Kuleba that China has “always upheld an objective and fair stance on the Ukraine issue, has committed itself to encourage peace and advancing negotiations and calls on the international community to create conditions for peace talks”, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
