Xi invites Putin to pay official visit to China in H1 2026, Putin accepts invitation - Ushakov

MOSCOW. Feb 4 (Interfax) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to pay an official visit to China in the first half of 2026, and Putin accepted the invitation, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.

"During their conversation, [Chinese] President Xi Jinping invited Vladimir Putin to pay an official visit to China in the first half of the year. The invitation was accepted with gratitude. Dates and details will be agreed additionally," Ushakov told reporters following the two leaders' talks by videoconference on Wednesday.

Xi also invited Putin to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen in November 2026, he said.

"Russia supports the work of China's [APEC] presidency, and our president will certainly be ready to participate in the meeting in Shenzhen," Ushakov said.

Russia and China will mark the 25th anniversary of their Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation on July 16, 2026, he said.

"This fundamental document in terms of international relations, which is fully relevant and matches the spirit of the times, was automatically extended for another five-year period," Ushakov said.

The leaders' bilateral meetings "are also expected to take place on the sidelines of other international events, including within the [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] SCO and BRICS," he said. In addition, numerous contacts at other high levels have been scheduled for 2026, including between the governments, parliaments, the Russian Presidential Executive Office and the Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the two countries' Security Councils, ministries, agencies, and political parties, Ushakov said.