Adedokun Waliyu 
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China from May 19 to 20, shortly after US President Donald Trump concluded his trip to Beijing, the Kremlin announced.
According to a Kremlin statement, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss ways to further strengthen the “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between Russia and China.
The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on major international and regional issues before signing a joint declaration at the end of their talks.
During the visit, Putin is also scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss economic and trade cooperation.
The announcement comes just after Trump completed the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade. Although the trip featured a grand reception, it also highlighted continuing tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade and geopolitical issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
China has repeatedly called for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine but has not condemned Russia for sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Beijing continues to describe itself as a neutral party in the conflict.
China has also denied supplying Russia with weapons or military equipment, instead accusing Western nations of prolonging the conflict by continuing to arm Ukraine.
As the world’s largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, China has become one of Russia’s most important economic partners, especially after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow over the war.
