Chinese language President Xi Jinping pays a three-day go to to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin subsequent week, Beijing and Moscow introduced Friday, with “strategic cooperation” on the agenda.
“On March 20-22, 2023, on the invitation of Vladimir Putin, president of the Individuals’s Republic of China Xi Jinping pays a state go to to Russia,” the Kremlin’s press service mentioned in an announcement.
“Quite a lot of vital bilateral paperwork might be signed,” the assertion reads.
Neither nation confirmed earlier reviews from the Wall Road Journal that Xi would use the chance to name Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — in what could be the primary communication between the 2 leaders since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine final February.
Whereas China was initially dedicated to a “no-limit partnership” handed with Moscow days earlier than the start of the battle in Ukraine, Beijing has since sought to place itself as a peace dealer, introducing a 12-point plan for peace.
But, Beijing’s makes an attempt have drawn criticism from Western leaders. China, they mentioned, is something however impartial within the battle, and thus not an excellent match to be taking part in the arbiter.
China has been accused by the U.S. of delivering non-lethal “help” to Russia — and, in response to unique customs knowledge obtained by POLITICO, Chinese language corporations shipped greater than 1,000 assault rifles, drone elements and physique armor to Russian entities between June and December of final yr.
