Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will sign a declaration marking the entry of Sino-Russian relations into a “new era” when the Chinese president visits Russia next week, the Kremlin announced on Friday.
The two leaders will sign “a joint declaration … on strengthening (their countries') comprehensive partnership and strategic relations entering a new era,” Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.
He said Putin and Xi would also sign a document on bilateral economic cooperation from now until 2030, as well as a dozen other agreements that are in the pipeline.
China’s foreign ministry said Xi’s trip was “a visit for peace” that aimed to “practice true multilateralism … improve global governance and make contributions to the development and progress of the world.”
Ukraine, military cooperation also on the menu
According to Yuri Ushakov, Ukraine will be on the menu of next week’s talks. Russia “greatly appreciates the Chinese leadership’s restrained and balanced stance on this issue,” he stressed. Beijing “understands the real causes of this crisis.” Moscow, he said, welcomed China’s proposed initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, based on a document released on 24 February.
Xi and Putin will also discuss cooperation in the “military-technical” and energy fields, the diplomatic adviser stated.
Where the programme of Xi’s March 20-22 visit is concerned, Ushakov said the two presidents would have a first tête-à-tête on Monday before a dinner. A Kremlin spokesman had earlier mentioned “lunch.”
Mr. Xi’s visit comes as Russia has massively reoriented its economy towards China following the invasion of Ukraine, which has triggered a barrage of Western sanctions.
