President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to China next week, the South China Morning Post reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter, who said the Russian leader’s trip would unlikely feature the same “scale and pomp” seen during the U.S.-China summit in Beijing this week.
The upcoming visit, reportedly planned for just Wednesday, was described by anonymous sources as part of “Moscow’s routine dealings with Beijing, with little expectation that there would be an elaborate parade or welcome.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that preparations are underway for Putin’s trip to China, telling reporters that a date would be announced “very, very soon.”
“The agenda is clear. First and foremost, it is our bilateral relations, which are special relations of a privileged strategic partnership,” Peskov said during a daily briefing.
He said Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will “exchange views” on the Chinese leader’s meeting with Trump this week.
