Putin to travel to China for talks with Xi in ‘first overseas trip’ of presidential term – after Beijing said that the two countries will be ‘strategic cooperative partners in the new era’

Vladimir Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Xi Jinping, according to reports, in what could be the Kremlin chief’s first foreign trip of his new presidential term.

The Chinese president yesterday congratulated his colleague on his re-election, saying it “fully reflects the support of the Russian people”, despite taking place amid a brutal crackdown on dissent.

The Russian despot has consolidated his grip on power for another six years after authorities claimed he won 88 percent of the vote in elections overshadowed by the deaths and imprisonment of opposition figures.

Western governments condemned the result as unfair and undemocratic, while friends of the Russian president, who head autocratic and undemocratic states including China, welcomed his victory.

Beijing called it an opportunity to advance ties with its largest neighbor, with the Foreign Ministry congratulating Putin and assuring him that the two states will be “strategic cooperation partners in the new era.”

The Russian despot has consolidated his grip on power for another six years after authorities claimed he won 88 percent of the vote in the election.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a news conference yesterday that Putin and Xi will “continue to maintain close exchanges” and “push the two countries to maintain a long-term friendship of good neighborliness.”

While China vowed to “continue to push forward” relations with Russia, sources claimed Putin will visit the country in May – which is expected to be his 20th trip there since taking power.

“Putin will visit China,” one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

The details were independently confirmed by four other sources, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another source said Putin’s trip to China would likely take place in the second half of May, while two sources said the visit would take place before Xi’s planned trip to Europe.

Asked about the reports, the Kremlin said several foreign trips were planned for Putin and high-level preparatory contacts were underway for them.

According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi congratulated Putin on his election victory on Monday, telling him: “I believe that Russia will be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction under your leadership.”

He reportedly added: “China attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations and is willing to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustainable, healthy, stable and deep development of (bilateral) ties.”

Reports in Chinese newspapers about Putin’s re-election as President of the Russian Federation are displayed at a kiosk in Beijing, China, March 19, 2024

A seller stands next to traditional Russian wooden nesting dolls, Matryoshka dolls, depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping

Meanwhile, Putin praised Beijing and said he was “confident that in the coming years we will only strengthen and build our relations and achieve common successes for the benefit of the Chinese and Russian people,” Russia’s state news agency TASS reported.

‘The most important thing is the coincidence of state interests. This creates a very good tone for solving common problems in the field of international relations,” Putin said.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China has further strengthened its trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions on both countries, especially Moscow, over its invasion of Ukraine.

The two countries declared a “no borders” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before the invasion.

The trip would be Putin’s 20th to China since he took power, with his first visit in 2000. The leaders are pictured together in 2016

Foreign diplomats and observers said they expected Putin to make China his first stop after his re-election. Putin’s formal presidential inauguration will take place around May 7.

Putin told reporters on Sunday that Russia and China shared a similar global vision, enjoyed resilient relations thanks in part to good personal relations between Putin and Xi, and that Moscow and Beijing would further develop ties in the coming years.

Xi visited Russia on his first post-pandemic foreign trip in March last year, shortly after beginning his precedent-breaking third term as Chinese president.

The two leaders have often touted their close personal friendship and have met more than 40 times, most recently in October when Putin was guest of honor at China’s Belt and Road summit in Beijing.

According to Chinese Customs data, trade between China and Russia reached $218.2 billion in the January-November period, surpassing the two countries’ goal of increasing bilateral trade to over $200 billion by 2024.

Xi said in a phone call with Putin last month that both sides should resolutely oppose interference in domestic affairs by external forces, indicating the US.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong said bilateral ties were “at their best in history” when he met his Russian counterpart in Moscow last month, according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China is considering taking part in a peace conference aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, to be hosted by neutral Switzerland in the coming months, its ambassador in Bern told local media on Monday.

Beijing launched a 12-point plan for Ukraine last year but has so far taken no significant steps to resolve the conflict, apart from attending Western-led peace talks in Jeddah last summer.

China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, met officials in five European capitals, including Moscow and Kiev, earlier this month.