Sébastien Le Belzic (correspondent in China), edited by Romain Rouillard 05:55, March 20, 2023

Three days after the issuance of an international arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected in Moscow on Monday for a three-day visit. He is due to meet his Russian counterpart there and the two leaders are expected to sign a joint declaration aimed at strengthening their cooperation.

For the first time in four years, Xi Jinping will visit Moscow. The Chinese president is expected in the Russian capital on Monday for a three-day visit. He is due to meet his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, recently wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). A trip rich in symbol for the two countries that share a very close relationship.

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The two heads of state are due to sign a joint declaration aimed at increasing their strategic cooperation but also to discuss possible military collaborations according to Moscow. For its part, Beijing is putting forward its initiative for peace in Ukraine." President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia will be a visit for peace. Based on the principles of non-alignment and non-confrontation. China will maintain its objective and fair stance on the Ukraine crisis and play a constructive role in promoting peace talks," said Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

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To improve his image, Xi Jinping, recently elected for a third term, could then meet for the first time with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of this visit. This meeting between the two leaders will be closely scrutinized by the United States, which suspects China of delivering weapons to Russia. What Beijing and Moscow still firmly deny.