Vladimir Putin invites Xi Jinping to visit as Russian and Chinese leaders look to deepen ties

On December 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit to Moscow in spring 2023. During a video conference, the Russian leader called his Chinese counterpart “dear friend”, highlighting the importance of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership, especially the military cooperation of the two states. Chinese leader Xi did not directly respond to the invite, but said Beijing was “ready” to build strategic cooperation with Moscow.