Xi Heads To Russia For First Foreign Trip After Awarding Himself A Third Term As China's President

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to embark on a visit to Russia from March 20 to 22, the China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

This visit marks the first foreign trip by Xi since he reappointed himself as the President of China for a third term and his first visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in late February last year.

The last time the two leaders met was in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September. The visit was reportedly requested by Russian President Vladimir Putin, though it remains unclear if he will meet with Xi.

The leaders are expected to discuss further Sino-Russian cooperation, with important bilateral agreements to be signed, according to the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, China has called for a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and renewed its calls for peace talks to resolve the conflict that started over a year ago. However, Beijing has thus far refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as the two countries draw closer amid deteriorating relations with Washington.