Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to visit Russia as soon as next week, the news agency Reuters reported on Monday (March 13) quoting people familiar with the matter. The development comes as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate over the eastern city of Bakhmut.
The crucial visit will be followed by China’s recently floated peace plans to end the Ukraine war, which has led to a massive global crisis.
China last month said that it hopes to play a constructive role in resolving the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine and came up with the so-called “peace plan” in the form of a 12-point foreign ministry paper. Beijing aims at gradual de-escalation between the warring nations.
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China’s foreign ministry and the Kremlin haven’t confirmed the news. As reported by the news agency, the sources briefed on the matter declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the issue.
The reports regarding Xi’s prospected visit came days after he secured a third term as China’s leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has already publicly invited Xi to Moscow without specifying a date, would be likely to portray it as a show of support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(With inputs from agencies)
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