Xi Jinping will visit Russia next Monday

chinese president Xi Jinping will arrive in Russia next Monday for a three-day official visit, as the Kremlin announced today. “Discussions will address current issues of further development of partnership relations and strategic interaction between Russia and China“, says the statement carried by Efe.

For his part, Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin commented today at a press conference that Xi’s trip will be a “peaceful visit” and that Beijing will “maintain its objective and fair stance on the Ukraine crisis” and “play a constructive role in promoting peace negotiations .

“The visit will be friendly and aims to deepen mutual trust between the two countries. The two leaders will exchange views on their pragmatic cooperation and common concerns, and further promote connectivity based on the New Silk Road and Eurasian Economic Union projects,” Wang said.

The two countries will also work to “jointly preserve the stability of the industrial chain, deepen exchanges at all levels to strengthen their friendship, promote cooperation and inject more positive energy into the world’s economic recovery,” Wang said.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin assured today that the two leaders will discuss “current issues” related to “the future development of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China.” China insists that narrow relations between Beijing and Moscow “do not threaten any country” and that they “advance the multipolarization of the world”.

Last year, Xi and Putin strengthened their ties days after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, on which Beijing maintained an ambiguous stance calling for “respect for the territorial integrity of all countries,” including Ukraine, and “paying attention to the legitimate concerns of all countries,” referring to Russia.

Beijing recently issued a statement on what it calls “conflict” in Ukraine in which he defends respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the “Cold War mentality” and ceasing fire. He also called for “moderation” to “prevent the situation from getting out of control” and leading to a nuclear conflict, a proposal criticized by the West for putting “the aggressor and the attacked” on the same plane.

Beijing has not explicitly supported Moscow, but has opposed sanctions against Moscow because “they do not solve problems.” During a meeting held in Uzbekistan late last year, Putin appreciated the fact that Beijing has always maintained a “balanced position” on Ukraine, although he acknowledged “questions and concerns” from China.