After Trump-Xi summit, Putin heads to Beijing to refresh strategic ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a state visit to China on May 19-20, officials in Beijing and Moscow said. According to SCMP, the trip aims to refresh the Sino-Russian strategic partnership immediately after the Trump-Xi summit.
China and Russia announced that Vladimir Putin will make a state visit to China on May 19-20 at the invitation of Xi Jinping, according to SCMP. State news agency Xinhua carried the statement, with both capitals saying the trip will refresh their "comprehensive strategic partnership".
The visit comes directly after Donald Trump's two-day Beijing trip. Analysts say Moscow will want to show that the softer US-China tone has not weakened Russia's position. Energy trade, military-technical cooperation and Asia-Pacific security are expected items on the agenda.
Beijing is set to receive Putin with top-level protocol, signalling that China's strategic balancing posture is intact even as it highlights the Trump visit's success. SCMP reports that the agenda for Putin's trip may include Belt and Road projects and discussions on natural gas pipelines.
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