Russian President Vladimir Putin may travel to Beijing on May 20, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Chinese capital. Bloomberg, citing the South China Morning Post, reported the possible trip based on sources familiar with the preparations.
According to the report, Putin’s visit is likely to last one day and is not expected to include large-scale ceremonies or a parade. It is being viewed more as part of regular political dialogue between Moscow and Beijing than as a separate high-profile event. Neither China’s Foreign Ministry nor the Kremlin has officially confirmed the date.
If the visit takes place, it will be Putin’s first foreign trip this year and another signal of close coordination between Russia and China. For Moscow, Beijing remains a key political and economic partner as Russia continues to face Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine. In recent years, China has become one of the main buyers of Russian oil and an important supplier of dual-use goods.
For China, relations with Russia also carry strategic importance. Both countries see each other as partners in a broader challenge to the U.S.-led global order. At the same time, a Putin visit shortly after Xi Jinping’s meeting with Trump could highlight Beijing’s effort to maintain a balance between dialogue with Washington and deeper ties with Moscow.
Putin previously said that Russia and China were “in principle” close to making a serious step forward in oil and gas cooperation. He has also said he would like to discuss nuclear energy with Xi. According to Bloomberg, energy may become one of the key issues in Russia-China contacts as Moscow grows increasingly dependent on Asian markets.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Bloomberg. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Bloomberg.
All rights to the original text belong to Bloomberg.
