The Russian president will arrive in Beijing on May 19 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing this week with a high-level delegation for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on bilateral ties, trade, energy cooperation, and global affairs, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said.

The May 19-20 visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, which Ushakov said reflects relations that have reached an "unprecedentedly high level."

Ushakov told reporters on Monday that the delegation will include senior ministers, top Kremlin officials, and the heads of major Russian state corporations and banks, among them Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina.

According to Ushakov, Putin and Xi will hold both one-on-one and expanded-format talks focused on "the most important and sensitive issues" in bilateral relations, as well as major international developments.

Around 40 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed, including a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two leaders are also set to adopt a separate declaration on promoting a "multipolar world" and "a new type of international relations," Yury Ushakov said.

Russia and China are "not friends against anyone," he added, but are working toward "peace and universal prosperity."

The Kremlin aide also dismissed speculation that the timing of Putin's trip was linked to US-China contacts, stating that there was "no connection whatsoever" and that preparations for the visit began shortly after Putin and Xi held a video call in February.

US President Donald Trump made a two-day visit to China last week, where he discussed Iran, Taiwan, trade relations and other issues with Xi. Despite both sides describing the talks positively, the visit produced no major breakthroughs on key disagreements between Beijing and Washington.

(RT.com)