Xi Jinping to Visit Russia for BRICS Summit, Deepening Ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Russia next month for the BRICS summit, a move that underscores the deepening ties between the two nations amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, The Associated Press reports.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed the visit on Thursday after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The two leaders hailed the “successful” development of their bilateral relations, which have grown stronger in the wake of Western sanctions imposed on Russia.
Xi’s visit to Kazan, Russia, will be his second since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, where China has repeatedly announced maintaining neutrality.
During the meeting, Putin invited Xi to attend the BRICS summit, which he “happily accepted,” according to Wang Yi. The two leaders will also hold a bilateral meeting in Kazan to discuss various aspects of their relationship.
Xi last visited Russia in March 2023, with Putin reciprocating with a trip to China in October of that year. The two have also met in Beijing in May and Kazakhstan in July.
Since the begining of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Beijing has increased trade with Moscow, reaching $240 billion in 2023. Russia has also redirected its energy exports to China.
The BRICS alliance, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia is considering joining, while Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied.
BRICS aims to amplify the voices of emerging economies and counterbalance the Western-led global order. Its members advocate for a fairer world order and the reform of international institutions like the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank.
