Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China on May 19 for a two-day official trip, during which he is expected to hold high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding strategic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.

According to a Kremlin statement, the visit will focus on deepening the “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between the two countries. The discussions are also expected to cover key international and regional issues, reflecting ongoing coordination between the two powers amid shifting global geopolitical dynamics.

The Kremlin said that President Putin and President Xi will exchange views on global developments and sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of their talks. The document is expected to outline shared positions on political, economic, and security-related matters, reinforcing the long-standing alignment between Russia and China on several international issues.

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In addition to meetings with President Xi, Putin is also scheduled to engage in discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with a particular focus on expanding economic and trade cooperation. Bilateral trade has grown significantly in recent years, especially as Russia has increased its reliance on China following Western sanctions imposed after the Ukraine conflict began in 2022.

The timing of the visit comes shortly after a recent trip to China by US President Donald Trump, marking a period of heightened diplomatic activity involving major global powers. While China has positioned itself as a neutral actor in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has called for negotiations, it has stopped short of condemning Russia’s military actions, instead maintaining close economic and diplomatic ties with Moscow.

China has also emerged as Russia’s largest buyer of fossil fuels, further strengthening their economic interdependence. Western nations, meanwhile, have accused Beijing of indirectly supporting Russia’s war effort, an allegation China has denied, instead blaming Western arms supplies to Ukraine for prolonging the conflict.

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