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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin including on Beijing’s proposals to end the war in Ukraine.
“During the visit, I look forward to exchanging in-depth views with President Putin on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern, so as to draw a blueprint for China-Russia strategic coordination and practical cooperation in the new era,†Xi said in brief remarks on arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport shown on Chinese state TV. “This visit will be fruitful and inject new impetus†into the relationship, he said.
Putin will give a detailed account of his view of the year-old invasion and discuss China’s 12-point proposal for resolving it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Tass.
The presidents hold one-on-one talks followed by an “informal†dinner with more negotiations and state dinner set for Tuesday, according to the Kremlin.
Xi’s trip to Moscow marks his most ambitious effort yet to play the role of peacemaker as he seeks to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Kyiv has been cool to Beijing’s plan, while the US and its allies have rejected it outright.
The Chinese president is expected to deliver a strong message of support to Putin with the three-day visit, his first trip abroad since securing a third term at Beijing’s annual parliamentary meeting earlier this month.
For Putin, Xi is by far the most significant international leader to visit since the February 24, 2022 invasion, which triggered Europe’s deadliest war since World War II and waves of sanctions by the US and its allies. Xi’s arrival comes just days after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest on charges of war crimes.