Putin to visit China this week
The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said Russian President Vladimir Putin would make a two-day state visit to China from May 16 to 17. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced that Putin was coming at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The ministry added Putin would meet Xi on Thursday. The Kremlin also confirmed the trip.  It said this would be Putin’s first foreign trip since he was sworn in as president and began his fifth term in office. The Foreign Ministry said Xi would discuss with Putin “cooperation in various fields of bilateral relations...as well as international and regional issues of common concern.” Analysts have said Russia is increasingly dependent on China since the West hit it with sanctions over its military action in Ukraine. Beijing has hailed its "no limits" partnership as it enjoys access to vast natural resources, including steady gas shipments via the Power of Siberia pipeline. (Xinhua/Agencies)