Xi Jinping invites Putin to visit China in 2023

MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Beijing at their informal meeting on Monday.

"Yesterday, I invited President Putin to visit China this year, when it is convenient for him, because this year we are hosting the third international high-level forum as part of the Belt and Road Initiative," Xi said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday.

Putin "attended the two previous forums," he said.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is an important topic of our cooperation with Russia, so I am certainly inviting President Putin to take part in this forum," Xi said.

Russia-China relations "have passed numerous endurance tests", Xi said, adding "that is why, without any doubt I chose Russia as the destination for my first foreign visit after reelection."

During the ongoing visit to Russia, he and "President Putin will comprehensively sum up what has been achieved in the development of bilateral relations and map out a cooperation plan for the future period," Xi said.

"In this respect, we have already received many practical results, but I expect to see even more successes," Xi said.