Russia and China prepare major deals as Putin heads to Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China on May 19–20 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries. At the conclusion of the talks, Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign around 40 bilateral documents.

“Stabil.az” has outlined the key elements of the Russian leader’s upcoming visit to China.

Visit program and arrival

According to the program, Putin’s visit to China will begin on the evening of May 19. Upon arrival, he is expected to be received at the airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The official agenda will commence on the morning of May 20 with a ceremonial welcoming of Putin at Tiananmen Square. Following the ceremony, the two leaders will hold closed-door talks in a restricted format, focusing on key issues in bilateral relations. The Russian delegation in these discussions will include five deputy prime ministers, several ministers, representatives of the presidential administration, and major business figures.

Subsequently, expanded-format negotiations will take place.

During the broader talks, Russian officials are expected to present reports on various areas of cooperation. Dmitry Chernyshenko will speak on preparations for regular meetings between heads of government, Denis Manturov on investment cooperation, Alexander Novak on energy cooperation, Tatyana Golikova on humanitarian cooperation, and Yuri Trutnev on the results of specialized commissions overseeing cooperation and development between Russia’s Far East and Baikal region and China’s Northeast.

Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to issue statements on foreign policy coordination.

At the conclusion of the talks, both leaders will deliver joint statements to the media.

Symbolic meetings and high-level engagements

As part of the visit, Putin is also expected to meet Chinese engineer Peng Pai. According to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, Putin first met him as a child in 2000. The individual later studied at a university in Moscow and now works for one of China’s largest companies. Ushakov described the planned meeting as “highly symbolic.”

Putin is also set to meet Premier of the State Council of the PRC Li Qiang, with discussions expected to focus primarily on trade and economic cooperation.

In the evening, the Chinese president will host a ceremonial reception marking the 25th anniversary of the bilateral treaty. Prior to the reception, Putin and Xi Jinping will visit a photo exhibition highlighting the history of Russia–China relations.

The working program will conclude with an informal tea meeting between the two leaders. The session will be attended by four representatives from each side and will focus on current international issues, according to Ushakov.

Expected agreements and strategic documents

At the end of the visit, approximately 40 documents are expected to be signed. These include a joint statement by the two heads of state on strengthening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, as well as on deepening good-neighborly relations and friendship.

The two sides are also expected to adopt a joint declaration on the development of a multipolar world and a new model of international relations.

In addition, intergovernmental, interdepartmental, and commercial agreements will be signed covering cooperation in industry, trade, transport, construction, education, and cinema, as well as collaboration in nuclear energy and information exchange between agencies.

Putin and Xi are also expected to discuss the “Power of Siberia-2” gas pipeline project. According to Ushakov, the issue remains on the agenda and will be addressed in detail during the talks, although he did not confirm whether any related agreements will be signed.

Delegation composition and strategic representation

The Russian delegation will consist of 39 officials, including First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov; Deputy Prime Ministers Tatyana Golikova, Alexander Novak, Yuri Trutnev, and Dmitry Chernyshenko; and eight ministers including Sergey Lavrov, Oksana Lut, Olga Lyubimova, Andrey Nikitin, Maxim Reshetnikov, Anton Siluanov, Irek Fayzullin, and Valery Falkov.

The presidential administration will be represented by aide Yuri Ushakov, along with deputy heads Dmitry Peskov and Maxim Oreshkin.

The delegation also includes Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, VTB head Andrey Kostin, Sberbank chief German Gref, VEB.RF head Igor Shuvalov, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev, and Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov.

Major business figures are also part of the delegation, including Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Novatek co-owner and Sibur board member Gennady Timchenko, Russian Fertilizer Producers Association head Andrei Guryev, Roskhim CEO Eduard Davydov, Novatek chairman Leonid Mikhelson, and businessman Oleg Deripaska.

Governors, heads of media organizations, and university representatives will also accompany the delegation.

Stabil.Az