MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will exchange visits this year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II victory, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
Speaking in Moscow during an annual meeting between the foreign minister and members of parliament, Lavrov said Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia in May, while President Vladimir Putin plans to visit China in late August or early September.
“Chairman Xi Jinping will make his next visit to Moscow for celebrations honouring the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, while President Putin will travel to China to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japanese militarism and the end of World War II in late August and early September,” Lavrov said.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have strengthened their alliance during Russia’s offensive on Ukraine, with the two leaders seeking to align their positions and often referring to each other as “dear” friends.
Xi has “timed his next visit to Moscow to coincide with events marking victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 9”, Lavrov told lawmakers.
Putin has turned the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in what Russia refers to as the “Great Patriotic War” into one of the country’s most significant national holidays, celebrated with a grand military parade on Moscow’s Red Square.
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Lavrov also mentioned that Putin is scheduled to visit China at the end of August and the beginning of September, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japanese militarism at the close of World War II.
He also stated that Russia is concerned about the “unbridled growth” of neo-Nazi sentiments in Ukraine, the Baltic states, some European countries and Canada, TASS reported.
The Russian top diplomat said Moscow is developing interaction with countries on all continents, and relations with some of them have reached “the level of strategic partnership.”
In addition to inviting Chinese President Xi, Putin has extended an invitation to US President Donald Trump to attend the May 9 parade in Moscow.
