China’s chief diplomat Wang Yi arrived in Russia ahead of Vladimir Putin’s visit to China

Chinese Foreign Minister and Head of the Office of the CPC Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi began his visit to Russia on September 18, which will last four days. The official purpose of his trip was to exchange views on issues affecting the strategic security interests of Russia and China. We are talking about the 18th strategic consultations within the framework of the mechanism of annual meetings between the Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and the head of the mentioned commission of the CPC Central Committee. In addition, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova announced negotiations between the Chinese minister and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in particular on the issue of the Ukrainian settlement, as well as ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the same time, Reuters connects Wang Yi’s arrival with the possible preparation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s October visit to China for the Belt and Road forum. The fact that the head of state accepted the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China in October was reported by Bloomberg on August 29. Press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, commenting on this information, said that the issue of interstate visits was “being worked out.” Wang Yi visited Russia in February 2023, before the visit of the President of the People’s Republic of China to Russia, and was then received by Putin. His meeting with the Russian president this time is not excluded, Vedomosti sources say.