Expanded talks between Putin and Xi Jinping begin in the Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping continued negotiations with the participation of delegations of countries. The meeting takes place in the Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

“At the just-concluded narrow-format talks, a very substantive and frank exchange of views was held on the prospects for the further development of Russian-Chinese relations and strengthening coordination on the world stage. And now, in an expanded format with the participation of delegations, it is necessary to consider in detail the practical aspects of our cooperation in various fields,” declared Putin.

Two hours after the start of narrow-format talks, the Russian delegation was joined by six Deputy Prime Ministers, including Alexander Novak and Denis Manturov, as well as Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, head of Rosatom Dmitry Likhachev.

After the talks, the documents will be signed. It is expected that around 18.00 Moscow time the leaders of the two countries will make a joint statement.

Earlier today, March 21, Xi Jinping Meets with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the Government House of the Russian Federation. The prime minister congratulated the Chinese leader on his re-election to the post of chairman of the PRC, and he, in turn, invited Putin and Mishustin to visit China this year.

Xi Jinping flew to Russia the day before, on March 20, on the same day he had an informal meeting with Vladimir Putin. According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, it lasted 4.5 hours. During the informal meeting, the leaders exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and in the world. Xi Jinping will visit Moscow until March 22.