Putin to visit China after Trump’s Beijing trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China on May 19 for a two-day trip aimed at strengthening strategic and economic ties between Moscow and Beijing, according to the Kremlin.

During the visit, Putin is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on expanding bilateral cooperation and addressing key international and regional issues. The Kremlin said both leaders would discuss ways to further deepen their “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.”

The two sides are also expected to sign a joint declaration following their meetings. In addition to talks with Xi Jinping, Putin will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade collaboration.

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Putin’s upcoming visit comes shortly after US President Donald Trump concluded a high-profile visit to Beijing, the first by a US president to China in nearly a decade. While Trump’s trip featured ceremonial diplomacy and discussions on global conflicts, it did not produce major breakthroughs on issues including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions involving Iran.

China has maintained close relations with Russia throughout the Ukraine conflict, positioning itself as a neutral actor while avoiding direct criticism of Moscow’s military actions. Beijing has repeatedly called for negotiations to end the war but has opposed Western sanctions on Russia and blamed continued arms support for Ukraine for prolonging the conflict.

China has also become one of Russia’s most important economic partners, particularly in the energy sector, following Western restrictions on Russian oil and gas exports. As the world’s largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, Beijing has helped Moscow offset some of the economic pressure caused by international sanctions.

Analysts say the timing of Putin’s visit reflects increasingly close coordination between China and Russia amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and ongoing global tensions involving the United States and its allies.