Xi Jinping invites Putin to visit China

This was reported by the Russian media. 

Xi Jinping invited Putin to visit Beijing in 2023 during his visit to Russia, held from March 20 to 22.

I yesterday invited President Putin to pay a visit to China this year at a convenient time for him, as this year China will host the third international forum under the Belt and Road Initiative. President Putin took part in the previous two forums,”Xi Jinping said.

The last time Putin visited China was in February 2022, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when he went to the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing.

• On March 20, Xi Jinping had an informal meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. It lasted 4.5 hours. The official meeting will take place on March 21.

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggests that the Chinese president's visit to Moscow indicates China's intention to provide "diplomatic cover" for "atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine" instead of condemning them.