Kremlin: Putin Visit To China On The Agenda

MNI London: Wires reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may travel to China in September for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kremlin: "Now is a good time to maintain good relations between Beijing and Moscow."

• The meeting would be the first opportunity for the Putin and Xi to reaffirm their "no-limits" partnership since the Wagner Group rebellion - although the two met virtually at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit earlier this month.
• Regarding Wagner, China’s Foreign Ministry said it supported Russia’s bid to maintain “national stability” in an “internal affair,” but some analysts pointed outthat the statement only came after Wagner Group leader Evgeny Prigozhin withdrew his troops.
• The Brookings Institutionsuggested that the Wagner incident, "has likely raised questions about whether China’s strategic alignment with a weakened Russia."
• Markets will be watching for any signs of a shift in the Russia-China bilateral relationship. Putin will be looking for confirmation that Beijing will continue to be a reliable partner in energy to underpin the war in Ukraine - the relationship increasing in significance with Turkish President Recep Erdogan's recent shift to the West potentially leaving Moscow more isolated.