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Russia’s Vladimir Putin will be in Beijing for 2022 Winter Olympics
- Russian president poised to be the first world leader to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in person since February 2020
- The announcement comes at a time when major winter sport countries such as the US and Canada are considering a diplomatic boycott
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.
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This is likely to make Putin the first state leader to meet face to face with Chinese President Xi Jinping since the height of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Announcing the news, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said jointly celebrating grand milestones had been a long-held tradition of the two countries, and the logistics of the Russian leader’s visit was being worked out.
“The leaders of the two countries will again demonstrate our friendly and neighbourly partnership by meeting at the Winter Olympics,” Zhao said on Tuesday.
“I believe the athletes from the two countries will achieve great results, and contribute to holding a simple, safe and exhilarating games for the world.”
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If no other world leader visits China between now and the games, scheduled to begin on February 4, Putin would be the first foreign leader to meet Xi in person since Covid-19 became a full-blown pandemic.
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