Li Zhanshu, no. 3 leader of China, is due to visit Russia next week, as per reports in Chinese state media on Sunday (September 4). Li will thus become the highest-ranking Communist Party politician to travel to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.
China and Russia, as part of what they call a "no limits" relationship, have ramped up co-operation and drawn closer as a counterweight to US.
China has not condemned Russia's Ukraine invasion and has even provided diplomatic cover by blasting Western sanctions. Li will embark on official visit to Russia, Mongolia, Nepal and South Korea from Wednesday until September 17, according to the official Xinhua news agency. He will attend Eastern Economic Forum due to be held from Monday in Russia's far eastern city Vladivostok.
“China’s top legislator Li Zhanshu will pay official visits to Russia, Mongolia, Nepal and the Republic of Korea (the official name of South Korea) from September 7 to 17,” official news agency Xinhua announced on Sunday. He will attend the four-day forum, set to begin on Monday, during his stay in Russia, it said.
According to Xinhua, Li assured Denisov that the two nations were moving in the correct manner thanks to their respective leaders' strategic direction, strong mutual support, and ongoing political trust.
Li is scheduled to spend three days in Nepal beginning on September 12 and will reportedly pay courtesy calls to members of the senior Nepalese leadership, including President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota.
With Wang Yi, the state councillor and foreign minister, visiting Nepal in March, and Lin Jianchao, the head of the CPC's international department, visiting in July, this will be the third high-level visit by the Chinese leadership in recent months.