Putin and Xi To Meet 'Several' Times This Year, Ambassador Says

The leaders of Russia and China will meet several times this year as Beijing and the Kremlin look to strengthen relations, China's ambassador to Russia has said.

"Putin's visit to China [this year] will definitely be a success," Zhang Hanhui, China's envoy, told Russian state news agency Sputnik on Saturday.

"China looks forward to his arrival," Zhang added.

The planning for the visit comes as the Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage, amid scrutiny of Beijing's support for the Kremlin during the conflict.

"He replied that preparations are currently underway and there will be several meetings this year," Sputnik reported on February 10, citing Zhang's response to one of its questions.

This upcoming visit marks Putin's 19th trip to China since assuming the presidency in 2000, illustrating the frequency and significance of his engagements with Beijing, Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on February 11.

The collaboration between China and Russia extends beyond bilateral visits, as evidenced by Putin's announcement that Russia will host the 2024 BRICS summit of emerging economies in the city of Kazan come October where Xi is likely to participate, SCMP reported.

The BRICS group, which counts China and Russia among its founding members, has expanded to include a total of nine nations, with Saudi Arabia currently contemplating membership.

Xi and Putin have spoken multiple times over the phone over the past months, most recently on Thursday to mark Lunar New Year, during which the two sides pledged to keep close communication and join efforts to create a "multipolar, fairer world order," SCMP reported.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun recently told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, that China would stand with Russia on the Ukraine issue despite pressure from the West, according to a video released by the Russian government.

"In recent years, the U.S. and the West world have been isolating Russia. We understand and care about Russia's situation all the time, and we strongly support justice. We have supported you on the Ukrainian issue even though the U.S. and Europe continue to put pressure on the Chinese side," he said.

"Even defense cooperation between China and the European Union has taken a hit, but we will not change or abandon our established policy because of this, and they should not and cannot hinder normal and long-term cooperation with Russia."

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