Xi Jinping to Putin on Russia: “Strategic Cooperation”. What the Chinese President Wants

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and confirmed by the Kremlin: President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from March 20 to 22 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thus, after days of indiscretions, the official diplomatic meeting between the two presidents arrives. “During the negotiations, current issues on the development of global partnership relations and strategic interaction between Russia and China will be discussed,” the statement said. “An exchange of views on deepening cooperation between Moscow and Beijing on the international stage is also planned,” Moscow said. A fundamental detail about the nature of the diplomatic meeting between the two presidents.

War in Ukraine and possible “mediation” that could lead to at least an armed truce could be on the table. After more than a year of war, Xi himself will try to get Russia and Ukraine at least one seat at the negotiating table. After the successful mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China is looking for a new diplomatic success. The visit to Russia – according to rumors in the Wall Street Journal – would be followed by a telephone conversation with the Ukrainian president. The White House announced days ago that it had “encouraged” Xi to contact Zelensky, the first contact between the two since the beginning of the conflict.