"Together with our Chinese partners, we are objectively interested in continuing our efforts to shape a fairer and more democratic world order. I am confident that the upcoming visit of the Russian President to China will strengthen our joint work," Sergei Lavrov told the Russian Senate.

Lavrov added that "Russia and China are not alone in their efforts to reform the international system, to form a multipolar world order that reflects the real weight of states."

"The Moscow-Beijing tandem plays a very important role in achieving balance in international affairs," the Russian minister said.

Lavrov noted that the West "categorically does not accept any forms of equal cooperation in the international arena."

Although Putin announced in April that he intended to visit China, the date of his trip - his first abroad since taking up his fifth presidential term - was only officially revealed today.

The Kremlin announced that, during this state visit, "the leaders of Russia and China will discuss in detail the entire range of issues of their comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, outline the main directions for the further development of Russian-Chinese cooperation, and exchange views on the most important international and regional problems."

"As a result of the talks, a joint statement by the heads of state and a number of bilateral documents are planned to be signed," the Russian president's office added.

Putin's trip also comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Beijing, a close ally of Moscow, in late April, "not to assist Russia" and not to supply it with components that could be used in its war against Ukraine.

The Asian giant has denied selling weapons to Russia and has assured that it maintains a "normal" commercial relationship with Moscow.

In February 2022, shortly before the start of the war in Ukraine, Xi Jinping and Putin proclaimed in Beijing a "friendship without limits" between their nations.

Since then, the two countries have maintained that their ties "do not threaten any country" and that, in fact, they "promote the multipolarisation of the world."

After the start of the war in Ukraine, the two leaders met twice: in March 2023, Xi Jinping travelled to Russia, and in October of the same year, Putin visited China.

In total, the Russian president has travelled to China 19 times, ten more than his Chinese counterpart to Russia, who has only visited nine times.

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