Beijing, March 17 (AFP\/APP): Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Moscow next week, where he will hold talks with his strategic ally Vladimir Putin just over a year into Russia’s war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Xi will be in Russia from Monday to Wednesday, Beijing’s foreign ministry and the Kremlin said on Friday.<\/p>\n
China’s foreign ministry called Xi’s trip “a visit for peace” that aimed to “practice true multilateralism… improve global governance and make contributions to the development and progress of the world”.<\/p>\n
The two leaders would exchange views on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues, ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference.<\/p>\n
“At present, changes not seen in a century are rapidly evolving, and the world has entered a new period of turmoil,” he said.<\/p>\n
“China will uphold its objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis and play a constructive role in promoting peace talks.”<\/p>\n
The Kremlin said the two presidents would speak about “strategic cooperation” and “discuss deepening the exhaustive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China”.<\/p>\n
Xi’s visit comes just over a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, kicking off a war that has isolated Moscow on the international stage.<\/p>\n
China, a major Russian ally, has sought to position itself as a neutral party in the conflict, urging Moscow and Kyiv to resolve it through negotiations.<\/p>\n
In a 12-point position paper on the war last month, China called for dialogue and respect for all countries’ territorial sovereignty.<\/p>\n
But Western leaders have repeatedly criticised Beijing for failing to condemn the invasion, accusing it of providing Moscow with diplomatic cover for its war.<\/p>\n
The United States has accused China of mulling arms shipments to support Russia’s war — claims Beijing has strongly denied.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Beijing, March 17 (AFP\/APP): Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Moscow next week, where he will hold talks with his strategic ally Vladimir Putin just over a year into Russia’s war in Ukraine. Xi will be in Russia from Monday to […]<\/p>\n
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