Putin to visit Beijing only days after Trump departs, SCMP reports

[HONG KONG] Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Beijing on May 20, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, which would be days after President Xi Jinping’s summit in the Chinese capital with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

The one-day trip is seen as a routine part of the Kremlin’s relationship with Beijing, the SCMP cited unidentified sources as saying, adding it is unlikely to feature any elaborate ceremonies like a parade.

China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kremlin has not officially announced the date of the visit so far.

Putin’s visit to China will be his first trip abroad this year, underscoring the close ties between Beijing and Moscow. Both countries see each other as critical partners in their broader struggle to challenge the US-led world order.

Over the past four years, Beijing became the key ally for Moscow as Russia came under immense economic sanctions from the West for its war against Ukraine. China has been helping blunt the effects of the punitive Western measures from the earliest days of the war, buying Russian oil and selling dual-use goods to its neighbour.

Last month, Xi touted the stability of ties with Moscow and pledged deeper bilateral coordination during a meeting with Russia’s foreign minister.

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Earlier in May, Putin said the two countries are “in principle” at a high level of agreement on making a serious step forward in cooperation in the gas and oil sector, adding that he would like to speak with Xi about nuclear energy as well. BLOOMBERG