The President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, is planning a visit to Russia to meet with his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as early as next week, writes Reuters citing own sources.
The plans for the visit come after China offered to mediate peace in Ukraine, which was met with skepticism in the West.
The visit will take place earlier than expected. Russian news agency TASS reported on January 30 that Putin invited Xi to visit the country in the spring. The Wall Street Journal wrote last month that the visit to Moscow could take place in April or early May.
Last month, Putin also hosted high-ranking Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Moscow.
As you know, during more than a year of the full-scale war that Russia is waging against Ukraine, China refrained from criticizing the aggressor and declared that it was in favor of peace negotiations. At the same time, China criticized Western countries, in particular, the United States, for supplying military aid to Ukraine, necessary for defense against the aggressor. On February 24, 2023, China presented a "peace plan" for Ukraine, which refers to negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, a cease-fire, and an end to military aid to our country.
At the end of 2022, China's top diplomat Wang Yi announced plans to deepen ties with Russia in 2023. US officials said Beijing was providing non-lethal aid to Moscow. The mass media stated that the countries continue to cooperate in the defense sphere and that China is considering arms deliveries to the Russian Federation.
Last week, Xi Jinping, who became the head of the People's Republic of China for the third time, openly criticized the United States for the first time, accusing it of "suppressing China."
