INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he expects Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend next month's BRICS summit in the
Tatarstan capital of Kazan.Since ordering the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has increasingly turned to Xi for
support, with Russia and China boosting trade to record levels amid heavy Western sanctions against Moscow."As agreed, we are expecting
Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit," Putin said during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the Eastern Economic Forum in
important emerging economies, as well as act as a political and economic counterbalance to wealthier nations in the West.The group of
22-24, following the group's enlargement.Moscow and Beijing, which both oppose "Western hegemony" and U.S
global dominance, declared a "no limits" partnership just before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022
Last month, Putin noted that Russia's economic and trade relations with China were "yielding results" during Chinese Premier Li Qiang's
Kazan.AFP contributed reporting.
