CNN
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Chinese language chief Xi Jinping will go to Russia subsequent week on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, the Chinese language International Ministry introduced Friday.
Will probably be Xi’s first go to to Moscow since Putin launched his devastating invasion of Ukraine greater than a 12 months in the past.
In the course of the go to, Xi and Putin will talk about “strategic cooperation” between the 2 nations, based on the Kremlin.
“In the course of the talks, topical problems with additional improvement of complete partnership relations and strategic cooperation between Russia and China shall be mentioned,” the Kremlin stated in a press release Friday.
“An trade of views can be deliberate within the context of deepening Russian-Chinese language cooperation within the worldwide enviornment,” the Kremlin added. “Various essential bilateral paperwork shall be signed.”
The go to comes as China tries to current itself as a impartial peace dealer on Ukraine, however the effort has been met with skepticism in Western capitals on account of Beijing’s rising partnership with Moscow.
Xi and Putin declared a “no-limits” friendship in February final 12 months, when the Russian chief visited Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
Weeks later, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine.
Since then, China has refused to sentence Russia’s invasion – or referred to it as such, as an alternative blaming the advance of NATO for scary the battle and repeating the Kremlin’s stance.
It has additionally supplied diplomatic help for Moscow, whereas strengthening financial and army ties to its northern neighbor.
In latest weeks western officers have begun publicly elevating considerations that China could also be contemplating offering Russia with deadly army help, an accusation denied by Beijing.
Final month, Putin hosted China’s high diplomat Wang Yi in Moscow simply days earlier than the anniversary of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The high-profile go to was extensively believed to be a precursor to a gathering between Putin and Xi.
Putin advised Wang relations between his nation and China are “reaching new milestones,” whereas Wang vowed to “additional strengthen our complete strategic partnership.”
Wang arrived in Moscow after US officers went public with considerations about how China’s persevering with partnership with Russia may have an effect on the warfare in Ukraine — and hours after Putin made a serious speech on the battle, during which he introduced plans to droop Russia’s involvement in its final remaining nuclear arms treaty with the US.
Putin and Xi final held a digital assembly in December, during which the Russian chief described relations between the 2 nations as “one of the best in historical past,” saying they might “face up to all exams.” Putin additionally invited Xi to go to Moscow within the spring of 2023.
The 2 leaders has cast a detailed private connection, with Xi describing Putin as a “greatest good friend” in 2019. Xi has met Putin in particular person 39 occasions since changing into China’s chief, most not too long ago in September throughout a summit in central Asia.