FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 21, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Tereshchenko/Pool via REUTERS
MOSCOW — The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a visit by President Vladimir Putin to China was on the agenda, adding that now was a good time to build on the already strong relationship between the two countries.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a regular news briefing that the date of Putin’s trip would be announced when it had been finalized.
“Now is an absolutely opportune moment to maintain high dynamics in the development of bilateral Russian-Chinese relations… The exact dates will be agreed and you will be informed. Dialogue continues at various levels,” he said.
Russia has further strengthened its economic, trade, political and military ties with China after its decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine drove relations with the West to post-Cold War lows.
Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed to a “no limits” partnership just weeks before Russia launched what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine on Feb. 24 2022.
Xi visited Moscow in March this year and sealed a series of economic and other agreements with his “dear friend” Putin.
China, a major buyer of Russian oil and gas, presented a paper calling for a de-escalation and eventual ceasefire in Ukraine, but Kyiv and its Western allies rejected the plan, saying it would lock in Russian territorial gains.
During Putin’s expected trip to Beijing, Peskov said, the two presidents would focus on bilateral trade and economic cooperation and on global issues.
“Based on the similarity of Moscow and Beijing’s vision of the essence of international relations…we have very, very good prospects for further discussions and, most importantly, for constructive interaction,” Peskov said.