Putin will visit China May 16-17

MOSCOW, May 14 (Reuters/TASS): Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China on May 16-17, his first foreign trip since his inauguration for a new term as president, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

"At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China on May 16-17 as his first foreign trip after taking office," the Kremlin said.

Putin and Xi "will discuss in detail the entire range of issues of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, identify key areas for further development of Russian-Chinese practical cooperation, and exchange views in detail on the most pressing international and regional issues."

The Kremlin said that after the meeting the two leaders would sign a joint statement.

According to diplomatic protocol, a state visit is the highest-ranking among international visits. Moscow and Beijing are linked by ties of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction while Putin and Xi in addition to their regular working relationship are also friends.

Even during the pandemic they continued to talk via video link and the Russian president visited the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022.