Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to embark on a two-day state visit to China this week, as confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. During his visit, Putin will hold discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with the meeting scheduled to commence on Thursday.
The Kremlin has also verified the upcoming trip, noting that Putin's visit comes at the invitation of Xi Jinping. This visit marks Putin's first foreign trip since assuming office for his fifth term as president.
Both Russia and China, two vast authoritarian nations, have been increasingly at odds with Western democracies and NATO. They are actively seeking to expand their influence in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
China has expressed support for Russia's assertion that Putin's recent military actions in Ukraine were prompted by alleged provocations from Western powers. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.