China’s Wang Yi visits Russia ahead of a possible Xi-Putin meeting.

Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, leaves for Russia on Monday for a four-day visit. The two countries hope to vow deeper mutual political trust ahead of what might be a historic visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing in October.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev for their annual security discussions, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. Wang is also in charge of the foreign affairs office for the ruling Communist Party.
During his high-profile visit to Moscow in March, he is also anticipated to set the stage for Putin’s travel to the Chinese capital for the third Belt and Road Forum after an invitation from President Xi Jinping.

Putin has been present in both China’s Belt and Road Forums in 2017 and 2019.

Since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him, however, it is unlikely that he has traveled outside of Ukraine.
Putin hinted at another trip to China on September 1, saying he anticipated meeting Xi soon.

Just days before Xi’s planned visit to Russia, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, compelling any of the 123 member states to prosecute him in The Hague.

China, however, did not sign the Rome Statute that established the ICC in 2002.
The United States expressed concern after Wang’s last visit to Russia in February, on the day of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Washington accused China and Russia of having a common goal of using military force to redraw borders.

Wang met with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan for hours of “constructive” talks in Malta before his arrival this week.

Xi and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden may meet this year, and the talks over the weekend were the latest in a series of high-level encounters between U.S. and Chinese officials.