Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning did not answer a question about the dates of a possible visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia at a briefing on Tuesday, noting that in 2023 the leaders of the two countries will “strengthen interaction.”
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“Chairman Xi Jinping has always maintained close cooperation with (RF) President Vladimir Putin on Sino-Russian relations and major international and regional issues, ensuring the strategic direction of the strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries. In the new year, the two sides will strengthen ties at all levels, to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations,” the diplomat said, answering a question about the dates of a possible visit of Xi Jinping to Russia.
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At the end of December, Putin invited Xi Jinping to come to Moscow in 2023. “I have no doubt that we will find an opportunity to meet with you personally. We are waiting for you, dear Mr. Chairman, dear friend, we are waiting for you next spring with a state visit to Moscow,” he said during a conversation with the Chinese President. Putin stressed that this would demonstrate to the world the strength of Russian-Chinese ties on key issues and would become the main political event of the year in bilateral relations.
