Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China at the invitation of leader Xi Jinping this week, AFP reports.
Putin will be in Beijing from May 16 to 17, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
This is the Russian leader's second trip to China in just over six months.
Days before Russia launches its full-scale military assault on Ukraine in February 2022. Beijing and Moscow announced a "borderless" partnership and have since increased trade to record levels.
Moscow views China as an important economic lifeline since the West hit Russia with unprecedented sanctions over its military offensive.
Meanwhile, China has benefited from cheap Russian energy imports and access to vast natural resources, including a steady supply of gas through the Power of Siberia pipeline.
However, their close economic partnership is under close scrutiny from the West.
The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on foreign banks and companies that work with Moscow. / BGNES
