Putin's Big China Visit: What's on the Agenda?

Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to China for a busy four-day trip. This is a big deal because Putin rarely stays abroad this long. He's got a packed schedule, including talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a military parade. First up, Putin will join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. This group focuses on security and includes countries like India, Iran, and Turkey. After that, he's off to Beijing for more meetings and the big parade on Tiananmen Square. The parade marks the end of World War II, and Putin is the "main guest. " He'll be seated right next to Xi, with North Korea's Kim Jong-Un on Xi's other side. Other leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will also be there. Putin's trip comes at a time when Russia-China trade is dropping. This is a big change from the record highs during the Ukraine war. Putin is hoping to turn things around. There are also plans to sign some important documents involving Gazprom, but the details are secret for now. Putin won't be alone. He's bringing a big team, including top officials like Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. They'll be talking about trade, security, and more.