His secretary National Security Board her Russian arrived today at BeijingFor talks with China’s political leadership, they broadcast Russian state news agencies.

During the visit, which is scheduled to last a day, Mr Saigu is expected to have meetings “with Chinese President Xi Jing and with the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Y”, according to Tass.

The visit of the former defense minister is recorded after a conversation by Xi Jinping and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, during which the Chinese leader praised Moscow’s “positive efforts” to end the Ukrainian crisis.

Moscow and Beijing reinforced their military and commercial relations after the war began between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, although the Chinese government seeks to be presented as a neutral factor in this armed conflict that lasts more than three years.

Beijing remains a political and economic ally of Moscow and has never condemned the Russian invasion of the Ukrainian territory.

According to Russian state media reports, Sergei Saigu will discuss with the Chinese side “bilateral issues in the field of security, as well as international and regional problems”.