Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he accepted his Chinese counterpart’s invitation to visit China at the Belt and Road Summit in October.
Putin stated after meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow that Russia and China are “integrating our ideas of creating a large Eurasian space,” mentioning China’s Belt and Road Initiative as part of that.
The Initiative is a massive program through which Beijing has expanded its influence in underdeveloped regions through infrastructural projects.
Since Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, Putin has shifted the country’s focus to China, supplying more energy to the country and increasing cooperative military exercises.
China has taken a neutral posture in the Ukraine conflict, even criticizing Western sanctions against Moscow. It also accused NATO and the US of inciting Putin’s military action, and declared a “no-limits” friendship with Russia last year.
As he met Wang Yi for security talks on Tuesday, senior Russian security official Nikolai Patrushev advocated for deeper policy cooperation between Moscow and Beijing to oppose what he described as Western efforts to limit them.
As Russia and China’s relations with the West deteriorate, the Kremlin has consistently emphasized its support for Beijing.
Wang landed in Russia on Monday for a four-day visit after meeting with US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser over the weekend in Malta.
Putin’s trip to China was first announced in July.
