Vladimir Putin will visit China this week to strengthen ties with the largest energy consumer in the world, it is the first foreign visit of Russian Prime Minister since the announcement of his return to the Kremlin in 2012.
More than ever a strong man of Russia, Vladimir Putin will be in Beijing on October 11 and 12 with a delegation of 160 business leaders of large groups.
He will meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao, discussing energy issue and the Sino-Russian cooperation on the international stage.
Vladimir Putin, President from 2000 to 2008 and head of government since 2008 (because the position could not legally bind three consecutive terms), has made several visits to China. His trip was long planned, but analysts believe that this visit has a symbolic value for the direction of its policy in the years to come.
“This is a strong symbol that Mr. Putin, who is well known in China, make it at this point,” said Sergei Sanakoïev, head of the Centre of Sino-Russian trade and economic cooperation, a lobbying organization based in Moscow.
President Dmitry Medvedev, appointed by Putin as his successor in 2008, announced on Sept. 24 that Putin the former KGB agent, in accordance with an agreement, will have the privilege to run for presidency again in the election of March 2012. The outcome of the election is little doubt in Russia.