Russian officials have announced that President Putin will arrive in Beijing, China, on Tuesday night, and will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
According to Russia’s Sputnik News Agency, Russian Presidential Aide Ushakov said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will greet Putin at the airport and that a grand welcoming ceremony will be held at the airport. After the ceremony, Putin will head to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
The heads of state of Russia and China will hold talks on the 20th. The talks will begin with a formal welcoming ceremony on the morning of May 20, which will take place at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Ushakov told reporters: “After the welcoming ceremony, our President will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting will be held in a small-scale format, during which the most important and sensitive issues in bilateral relations will be discussed.”
After the small-scale meeting, the two sides will also hold an expanded-format meeting. According to Ushakov, during the expanded meeting, five deputy prime ministers who lead relevant committees will present reports on the work of their committees. Foreign Ministers Lavrov and Wang Yi will also make statements about diplomatic cooperation.
During Putin’s visit to China, documents to be signed will cover furthering ties in the fields of industry, transportation, and nuclear energy. The two sides will also sign a joint declaration on building a multipolar world and a new type of international relations.
Ushakov also said that after the talks, Putin and Xi Jinping will issue a joint statement to the media.
The final item on Putin’s itinerary in China will be a tea gathering with Xi Jinping. Ushakov said: “The tea gathering between the two leaders can be described as one of the most important activities during this visit.”
Ushakov also said: “Because everything that needs to be discussed in a confidential, closed-door, friendly, and frank manner will take place during the tea gathering after the formal banquet.” He also said: “Only four people from each side will attend the tea gathering, which will focus on hot issues on the international agenda. The two heads of state will discuss all the most pressing issues in a friendly and candid atmosphere.”
The two heads of state will also jointly attend the opening ceremony of the Russia-China Education Year events for 2026-2027.