The head of state of China is negotiating important strategic issues with Putin. However, experts do not expect a breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict.
The red carpet was rolled out for Xi Jinping at Moscow’s government airport almost punctually at noon. In a first speech, the 69-year-old head of state reviewed the Russian-Chinese relations of the past decade, which sounded like a single paean: Xi praised the “deeper political trust”, “practical cooperation” and the friendship between peoples, which ” rooted in the hearts of men”. Xi hailed Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “dear friend”. And he said he was convinced that Putin would remain head of state following the 2024 presidential election.
But at the same time, Xi made it clear that his first state visit this year would also be regarding the Ukraine war: He spoke of a “detailed exchange of views” with Putin on “important international issues” – and expressed confidence that his visit ” lead to fruitful results”.
