Putin, Xi to meet in China in October amidst continued Ukraine conflict

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed his acceptance of an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to travel to China in October.

China and Russia, have frequently emphasized their strong strategic alliance and extensive partnership across economic and military domains, often referring to it as a “limitless” collaboration.

This relationship deepened further following Russia’s military actions in Ukraine in February of the previous year, with China abstaining from criticism.

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During a meeting in Saint Petersburg with Beijing’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Putin said, “I was pleased to accept the invitation of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China to visit China in October”. In a televised statement, he conveyed his intent to visit China in October.

During the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to St. Petersburg, Putin recalled this year's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that facilitated the further development of Russia-China cooperation. Putin is expected to visit China to meet Xi next month pic.twitter.com/jm0yNFbrnF

— RT (@RT_com) September 20, 2023

Earlier in March, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Moscow, where he and Putin showcased a unified stance against Western nations. This visit by China’s top diplomat to Russia is part of a series of high-level engagements between the two countries.

The Kremlin has been actively working to strengthen its ties with China, especially following the commencement of its Ukraine campaign, which resulted in Moscow facing increased international isolation. China, on the other hand, has positioned itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict while extending essential diplomatic and financial support to Moscow.

In further diplomatic efforts, Wang also held meetings with Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Nambaryn Enkhbayar of Mongolia, as reported by China’s foreign ministry.