The foreign ministries of China and Russia are working on the details of a possible visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing this winter on the occasion of the Olympics. This was announced on Tuesday at a regular briefing by the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian, TASS reported.

China and Russia have a tradition of celebrating important events together. In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the invitation of the Russian side, came to the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, he said.

According to him, now, Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited his good friend, Russian President Vladimir Putin, to come to the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The parties maintain close contacts regarding the details of the upcoming visit," Zhao Lijian stressed. “We are confident that the athletes of the two countries will set new records, the diplomat concluded.

Earlier, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov reported that Putin had received an invitation to visit the Olympic Beijing, but such a trip would be announced only after all the details were agreed.

The 24th Winter Olympic Games will be held in Beijing from 4 to 20 February 2022, and the Paralympics from March 4 to 13.