Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China on May 16-17, marking his second trip to the country in less than a year. The visit comes after Putin's re-election, extending his rule until 2030. Chinese President Xi Jinping will welcome Putin in Beijing for talks that are expected to focus on bilateral ties and international politics.
According to various sources, Putin is expected to arrive in Beijing on Thursday at the invitation of Xi Jinping. This will be Putin's first foreign trip since beginning his fifth term in office.
The two leaders met in Moscow last year during Xi's state visit, marking the start of a new term for both leaders. Since then, China has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has adopted a neutral stance towards the outside world while continuing to back its long-standing partner.
Putin is likely to press Xi for more support to sustain Russia's isolated economy and its war machine in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Xi may be testing Putin's appetite for risk by ordering drills for the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
The choice of China as Putin's first destination after his re-election underscores the close ties between the two nuclear powers and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. However, Beijing risks alienating Europe, a key trading partner needed to help revive China's economy, by continuing to support Russia.
The publication of a joint declaration and the signing of several agreements are expected after the talks. Putin's last official state visit to China was almost six years ago. Since then, Beijing has not agreed to participate in an upcoming peace conference hosted by Switzerland, to which Russia has not been invited.