Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would consider going to China for his first foreign trip after being re-elected.
TASS news agency reported that at a meeting on March 19, Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov asked Mr. Putin to choose Beijing for his trip.
“I hope that your first visit will be to the East, not the West. Chinese President Xi Jinping is waiting for you to visit, he loves our country very much,” Mr. Zyuganov said. .
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
President Putin promised he would consider Mr. Zyuganov’s opinion. “I will definitely consider what you just said, no joke,” Mr. Putin said.
Also on March 19, Reuters news agency said that Mr. Putin will go to China in May to hold talks with President Xi Jinping. This may be the first foreign trip of the Kremlin boss in the new presidential term.
On March 18, the governments of many countries including China and North Korea congratulated Mr. Putin on winning the Russian presidential election lasting from March 15 to 17. Mr. Putin will lead Russia for another 6 years.