Putin Arrives in Beijing for High-Level Two-Day Visit with Chinese Leadership

BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between Russia and China, according to Russian news agency TASS.

The Russian leader is expected to take part in a packed schedule of engagements during his stay in the Chinese capital.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said one of the key highlights of the visit will be a tea session hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders are expected to hold in-depth discussions on a range of important issues in a smaller and more informal setting.

The tea meeting, involving a limited number of delegates, will be preceded by official Russia-China negotiations attended by delegations from both countries.

Putin is also scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang as part of the visit.

Other events on the agenda include the launch of a cross-cultural education year programme, as well as a visit to a joint TASS-Xinhua exhibition showcasing the history of relations between Russia and China.

The Russian president is also expected to meet young Chinese engineer Peng Pai and participate in several additional protocol events during the visit.

The trip is seen as another significant step in deepening strategic cooperation and diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Beijing.

— BERNAMA-TASS