Russia Offers China Jet Engines as Putin Prepares for Beijing Visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to travel to China at the end of August for a series of high-level political meetings, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled for September. Ahead of his visit, Moscow presented Beijing with an unexpected diplomatic gesture, reported the Chinese outlet Sohu. Russia Offers Aircraft Engines to China According to a recent statement by Sergey Chemezov, head of the Russian state corporation Rostec, Moscow is ready to supply aircraft engines to China. Analysts in Beijing described the move as a signal of Russia's intent to strengthen cooperation with its key ally. Following such a gift, Russia may also expect reciprocal steps from China. In addition to President Putin, several prominent leaders will attend the Beijing meetings, including Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia, and Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia.