Putin plans to visit China next month

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to visit China in May, which would be his first overseas trip after beginning his fifth term in office on May 7, according to Kyodo, citing Russian news agency TASS.

“I have a visit (to China) scheduled in May,” Putin stated during his address at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs congress on Thursday, as reported by Kyodo.

The announcement coincided with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in Beijing. Putin’s forthcoming visit follows a telephone call in February this year, during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping accused Washington of “interfering” in their countries’ affairs.

Earlier this month, Xi Jinping held a face-to-face meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, marking their first in-person discussion in six years. Their last meeting in 2018 preceded Putin’s inaugural visit to China following his re-election.

China and Russia have deepened their economic, trade, and diplomatic ties, particularly in light of Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Despite China’s claim of neutrality in the conflict, it has become a crucial economic partner for Russia, providing significant support to its isolated economy. Both countries have aligned diplomatically against perceived Western containment efforts.

In response to sanctions on Russian imports by other countries, Beijing has increased its imports of Russian oil. Putin last visited Beijing in October 2023 during the Belt and Road Forum, while Xi visited Moscow for a state visit in March 2023.