Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier, will meet with Russian leaders in Moscow on Wednesday as part of a four-day visit to Russia and Belarus amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Li, China’s second-ranking official, is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and engage in discussions regarding strategic relations and bilateral cooperation with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian state-run news agency Tass reported.
In a statement after his arrival in China, Li said that in the new era, China-Russia relations have shown new vitality in all aspects, adding that the visit aims to “deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Russia is pushing back against the first foreign invasion of its territory since World War II, as well as rising pressure to end the war in Ukraine.
Western leaders and Kyiv have accused Beijing of supporting the Russian war effort by exporting dual-use goods to Russia, including aerospace, manufacturing, and technology equipment. As a result, the West has increased its scrutiny and pressure on Beijing to reduce this trade.
While China has been working to portray itself as an impartial peace broker in the conflict, its high-level officials have maintained minimal contact with Kyiv and have been strengthening ties with Moscow in the areas of trade, diplomacy, and security.
On Monday, the Foreign Ministry of China announced that Li is scheduled to conclude his four-day journey in Belarus, where he will engage in an “in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields” with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.
