Russian leader leaving for China

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said that President Vladimir Putin will leave for China on October 16 to participate in the third Belt and Road Forum.

The negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping will be held on the sidelines of the forum on October 18, Interfax said.

“There is a trip to China in the coming hours, and we are greatly interested because negotiations between the Russian and Chinese leaders will be held as part of the third Belt and Road Forum,” Ushakov told reporters.

He said that negotiations will be held on October 18.

The Russian president’s aide noted that despite numerous meetings and speeches of Xi Jinping on the forum, the full-scale Russian-Chinese negotiations both in an expanded format with delegations and in a narrow format (working breakfast) will be held in Beijing.

“The leaders may also hold face-to-face talks,” he added.

Ushakov noted that during the negotiations, the leaders will discuss the relevant problems of bilateral practical cooperation and the international agenda, including the issues of creating a fairer multipolar world order.

While speaking about President Putin’s participation in the forum, Ushakov said that the Russian president was invited to this event as the main guest and will speak at the opening ceremony of the event immediately after the Chinese leader’s speech.

Ushakov noted that more than 20 heads of state and governments from various countries, including the countries of Eurasia, Africa and Latin America, will take part in the forum.

“President Putin will also talk to Russian journalists following all the events in Beijing,” Ushakov said.