Kremlin Responds to Reports on Chinese President's Visit to Russia

The information suggesting that Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to visit Russia from President Vladimir Putin is inaccurate. This was announced by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, as reported by TASS.

Earlier, Radio Free Asia reported that Xi Jinping had refused to visit Russia in response to Putin's invitation. According to RFA, the Russian president extended this proposal during a phone conversation on June 15. The Chinese president declined the invitation, citing the difficulties of visiting the country in the near future due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The fact is that certain restrictions related to coronavirus continue in China, and that is absolutely normal; we must understand this,” Peskov stated.

The president's press secretary noted that Putin has an invitation to visit China, while Xi Jinping has an invitation to Russia. The visits by the heads of state will take place after China eases its COVID-19 restrictions.