Kremlin Says Putin Trip to China Is 'On the Agenda'

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with CEO of VTB bank Andrey Kostin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2023. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with CEO of VTB bank Andrey Kostin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2023. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)
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Kremlin Says Putin Trip to China Is 'On the Agenda'

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with CEO of VTB bank Andrey Kostin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2023. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with CEO of VTB bank Andrey Kostin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2023. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a visit by President Vladimir Putin to China was on the agenda, adding that now was a good time to build on the already strong relationship between the two countries.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a regular news briefing that the date of Putin's trip would be announced when it had been finalized.

"Now is an absolutely opportune moment to maintain high dynamics in the development of bilateral Russian-Chinese relations... The exact dates will be agreed and you will be informed. Dialogue continues at various levels," he said.

Russia has further strengthened its economic, trade, political and military ties with China after its decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine drove relations with the West to post-Cold War lows.

Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed to a "no limits" partnership just weeks before Russia launched what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24 2022.

Xi visited Moscow in March this year and sealed a series of economic and other agreements with his "dear friend" Putin.

China, a major buyer of Russian oil and gas, presented a paper calling for a de-escalation and eventual ceasefire in Ukraine, but Kyiv and its Western allies rejected the plan, saying it would lock in Russian territorial gains.

During Putin's expected trip to Beijing, Peskov said, the two presidents would focus on bilateral trade and economic cooperation and on global issues.

"Based on the similarity of Moscow and Beijing's vision of the essence of international relations...we have very, very good prospects for further discussions and, most importantly, for constructive interaction," Peskov said.



White House Withdraws Nomination for US Hostage Envoy

FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo
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White House Withdraws Nomination for US Hostage Envoy

FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo

The Trump administration has withdrawn the nomination of Adam Boehler to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, the White House said on Saturday.
Boehler, who has been working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, will continue hostage-related work as a so-called "special government employee," a position that would not need Senate confirmation.
"Adam Boehler will continue to serve President Trump as a special government employee focused on hostage negotiations," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
"Adam played a critical role in negotiating the return of Marc Fogel from Russia. He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home."
A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Boehler withdrew his nomination to avoid divesting from his investment company. The move was unrelated to the controversy sparked by his discussions with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"He still has the utmost confidence of President Trump," said the official.
"This gives me the best ability to help Americans held abroad as well as work across agencies to achieve President Trump’s objectives," Boehler told Reuters in a brief statement.
Boehler recently held direct meetings with Hamas on the release of hostages in Gaza. The discussions broke with a decades-old policy by Washington against negotiating with groups that the US brands as terrorist organizations.
The talks angered some Senate Republicans and some Israeli leaders. According to Axios, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer expressed his displeasure to Boehler in a tense phone call last week.