China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to a return visit to Beijing. At a meeting with the Russian leader in Moscow, Xi Jinping said, “I invite you to visit China as soon as possible.” Putin is also welcome in the People’s Republic this year.
An international arrest warrant for war crimes in Ukraine has been in place for the Kremlin chief since last week. However, China and Russia do not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Xi remains in Moscow for a three-day state visit until Wednesday. After the meeting with Mishustin, a new round of talks with Putin was on the agenda. The two heads of state had already spoken to each other for several hours on Monday. According to Russian information, they then want to publish a joint press statement. There should not be a joint press conference.
According to official information, the meeting with Mishustin mainly dealt with questions of economic cooperation. The head of government put the value of bilateral investment projects at the equivalent of more than 154 billion euros. Mishustin also called for a land corridor for grain and other agricultural goods from Russia to China.
In the course of the negotiations on the extension of the grain agreement with Ukraine, Moscow recently complained that Western sanctions were hindering the shipment of Russian agricultural goods.
China is considered a close ally of Russia. Beijing has not condemned his war of aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, China has positioned itself as a mediator. The West fears that China could supply arms to the neighboring country.
