Reports have stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are planning to visit China in the near future.
According to Russian media outlet TASS, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing on Thursday that Putin’s visit to China would take place soon, with the date being announced shortly.
“This visit is being prepared. It can be said that the preparation has already been completed — we are just adding the final touches. It will take place in the very near future,” said Peskov.
Putin spoke highly of the cooperation between the two countries at a previous press conference on Sunday, describing it as “undoubtedly a factor of deterrence and stability” in global affairs. According to the Xinhua News Agency, he said China is Russia’s largest trade and economic partner, and highlighted the importance of high-tech industries in continuing bilateral trade diversification.
Spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Guo Jiakun responded to Putin’s praise on Monday, stating that China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era.
He said, “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, and the first year of the China-Russia Years of Education, which provides fresh opportunities for further advancing the China-Russia relationship.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had paid an official visit to China on April 14 and 15, meeting his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Lavrov said Russia was willing to work with China to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
Pakistani media outlet, Dawn, also reported from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was scheduled for a three-day visit to China, beginning from May 23.
Dar spoke at a ceremony, stating that Islamabad and Beijing were taking “another significant step towards innovation, digital connectivity, and the economy of the future as our partnership enters a new phase in the digital age.”
He emphasised that the relationship between Pakistan and China was “not ordinary diplomacy”.
