As U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up a three-day, two-night trip to China and heads home on the 15th, the leaders of Russia and Pakistan—countries classified as having a "pro-China bent"—have in succession signaled plans to visit China. Foreign media said, "It is unusual to invite the U.S. and Russian presidents in the same month."
On this day, China's state-run Global Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif plan to visit China soon. The Kremlin said preparations for Putin's trip to China are being finalized. Putin is expected to visit China as early as next week.
Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif, who is mediating the war between the United States and Iran, will also visit China for three days starting on the 23rd. Pakistan said it plans to visit China to discuss economic cooperation, including energy and digital consolidation between the two countries, and experts expect discussions on the Middle East situation.
The Global Times said, "The recent surge in high-level visits to China is because, as China's influence grows in global governance and economic cooperation, countries are seeking closer engagement," adding, "Amid mounting uncertainty in the world, China has become a stabilizing country that offers peace and win-win cooperation."
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) said, "It is the first time China has invited the U.S. and Russian leaders in the same month," assessing that, excluding multilateral events, it departs from the usual diplomatic schedule.