Putin to Visit China as Russia-China Ties Deepen

Russian President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to China on May 19 and 20 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Kremlin announced. During the trip, the two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations, deepen strategic interaction between Moscow and Beijing, and exchange views on key international and regional issues. The announcement comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Xi in China yielded no significant agreements on trade disputes or other matters. Trump's three-day visit to Beijing, which included stops at the Grande Salão do Povo, the Templo do Céu, and the highly restricted Zhongnanhai complex, was carefully orchestrated to showcase China's historical power and diplomatic openness. At Zhongnanhai, Xi notably mentioned Putin during their discussions, revealing that the Russian president is among the few foreign leaders who have been invited to walk through the imperial garden. Xi told Trump that very few world leaders receive such access, naming Putin alongside three U.S. presidents who previously visited: Richard Nixon in 1972, George W. Bush in 2002, and Barack Obama in 2014. Trump was invited to the exclusive compound as reciprocation for hosting Xi at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2017. The timing of Putin's visit underscores the close relationship between Russia and China, which has strengthened significantly in recent years as both countries have faced tensions with the West. While Trump and Xi spoke of cooperation during their meetings, they failed to announce any concrete agreements to resolve ongoing trade impasses, leaving key disputes unresolved.