Kremlin aide visits China amid speculation about potential Xi-Putin-Trump meeting

Nikolai Patrushev, who is also chairman of Russia’s Maritime Board, was set to hold talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.

Leading a delegation that included representatives from government agencies, major logistics firms, shipbuilders and scientific and educational institutions, Patrushev would “hold talks on Russian-Chinese cooperation in the maritime sector”, Russian news agency Interfax quoted the Maritime Board as saying.

This was Patrushev’s first visit to China as chairman of the Maritime Board, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday, noting that Wang and other department chiefs would meet with him to exchange views on bilateral relations and cooperation on maritime affairs.