The Kremlin on Saturday (local time) announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on his two-day trip to Beijing next week.
The two leaders will discuss bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and “key international and regional issues,” CBS News reported, citing the Kremlin.
Here’s what is expected from the upcoming meeting
Putin’s Beijing trip is scheduled for May 19-20, and his visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship, the Russian government said. Additionally, the Kremlin said that after the meeting, the two sides are expected to sign a joint statement “at the highest level” and several bilateral intergovernmental, interdepartmental, and other documents.
Russia-China relations
Bilateral ties between Moscow and Beijing have strengthened in the last few years, especially since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, a move that left Moscow shunned on the global stage and heavily reliant on Beijing for trade amid increased Western sanctions.
The last meeting between the two leaders took place in September 2025, when Putin visited China and was welcomed by Xi, who addressed him as an “old friend”. The Russian leader also addressed Xi as “dear friend.”
Putin is also scheduled to visit China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the city of Shenzhen in November.
The announcement of Putin’s visit came nearly a day after US President Donald Trump concluded his visit to China, making it the first by an American president in nearly a decade. During his two-day visit to Beijing, Trump discussed trade and the US-Iran war with his Chinese counterpart.
This is a developing story. More details awaited.
