Vladimir Putin to Visit China Within the Year as Xi Urges Stronger Strategic Coordination with Moscow
RUSSIA – The Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China in first half of 2026, according to the Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.
In remarks to Russian media outlets, including state news agency Tass, Lavrov said he cannot discuss the program of the visit as it is being finalized, but noted it will see the renewal of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship signed in July 2001.
“As part of the development of the program for President Putin’s visit to China in the first half of this year, we proposed paying special attention to this area, the field of education, when preparing the summit agenda,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov has been in Beijing since Tuesday for a two-day visit that comes amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. He met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Tuesday, and later with President Xi Jinping early Wednesday.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russia Treaty of Friendship.
Russian daily Vedomosti reported that Putin’s visit is likely to take place in the second half of May, with preliminary dates discussed for the week of May 18, citing two unnamed sources.
Russia-China ties have strengthened in recent years, with bilateral trade reaching about $220 billion last year.
Putin last visited China in September, when he attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the northern city of Tianjin and a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Chinese President Xi Jinping Urges Stronger Coordination with Russia
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for “closer” and “stronger” strategic coordination with Russia to defend the two countries’ interests and safeguard unity among the Global South, state media reported.
Xi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to Xinhua News Agency.
He urged both countries to shoulder their responsibilities as major powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Xi also said the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly valuable amid a changing and turbulent international landscape.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the meeting that Xi welcomed Lavrov’s visit.
It added that Xi praised the “unprecedented level” of development in bilateral relations, noting the significant results achieved over the past 30 years since the signing of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China on July 16, 2001.
The ministry also said Lavrov underlined the “guiding role” of leadership diplomacy in the comprehensive advancement of Russian-Chinese relations across all areas.
