President Putin Expected to Visit China This Year - Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to China is expected to take place later in 2024, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing earlier today, at which they reportedly discussed Putin's upcoming state visit, among other things.

"The Chinese leader welcomed Lavrov's arrival in Beijing as an important stage in the comprehensive preparations for the upcoming state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the People's Republic of China this year," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also noted that the Chinese head of state praised Russian-Chinese relations and "expressed readiness to further enhance the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with Russia."

Bilateral relations between Russia and China have flourished in the past few years as both countries find themselves antagonized by the United States and its allies.

Russia and China’s respective economies profit immensely from the countries’ cooperation while Western powers become increasingly frustrated by the fact that Moscow and Beijing are less and less susceptible to the effect of US and European economic sanctions.

In March 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia in what became his first presidential visit after his reelection earlier that same month.

During that visit, Xi mentioned that he and Putin “are similar in character and have become good friends.”

The Chinese president added that he “will come to Russia often” and that Putin will also visit China “more often.”