Putin to bolster 'comprehensive partnership' with Xi

Russian leader Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Beijing announced on Saturday. Putin's trip comes hot on the heels of US President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing this week. During the trip, the Russian leader will discuss with Xi how to "further strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation" between Moscow and Beijing, according to a Kremlin statement on Saturday. Xi and Putin will "exchange views on key international and regional issues" and sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of their talks, it added. As part of the visit, Putin is also scheduled to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Premier Li Qiang. The announcement of Putin's trip comes just after Trump wrapped up on Friday the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade. (Xinhua & AFP) Edited by Thomas McAlinden