Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China to attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s victory over Japan in World War II, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who made the announcement during a question-and-answer session in the Russian State Duma on Wednesday. The visit is expected to take place in late August or early September, with a precise timeline yet to be confirmed. Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Moscow on May 9 to mark the Victory Day, Lavrov emphasized.
Earlier, in January, the presidential aide Yuri Ushakov had stated that Moscow and Beijing had exchanged invitations for the events related to World War II. Ushakov added that Putin and Xi had agreed during a phone call to dedicate the year 2025 to the 80th anniversary of the war’s end.
Putin’s last visit to China took place in May 2024, during which he met with Chinese President Xi and high-ranking Chinese government officials. Following the talks, Putin and Xi signed a statement on strengthening the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
On September 2, 1945, Japan officially signed the surrender document, acknowledging its defeat in World War II. September 3 is celebrated as Victory Day in several countries, including China.