Xi Jinping plans to visit Russia next year

Russian Ambassador to Beijing Igor Morgulov announced the visit, Reuters reports.

“What can be said that is no secret, in terms of priority, is that the chairman of the People's Republic of China is expected in Russia next year,” the ambassador said.

He also noted that China, which has refrained from condemning Russia's war against Ukraine, “understood the basis for the conflict in as much as they are coming up against many of the same challenges -- the U.S. and its allies are boosting pressure on China in the Asia-Pacific region.”

According to him, NATO is allegedly developing plans to move its military infrastructure to the region, so Russia and China should jointly respond to U.S. policy.

"In the international arena, it is up to our countries to respond further with a 'dual counter-action' to the 'dual deterrence' which the West is trying to pursue with regard to Russia and China," Morgulov said.

• On December 12, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. During the meeting, Xi said that it was necessary to "promote the earliest possible détente" of the situation in Ukraine.