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Putin said last month that a Xi visit had been agreed, though
the Kremlin chief gave no date for a possible visit. The Wall
Street Journal reported last month that a visit to Moscow could
take place in April or early May.
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a
request for comment on the possibility of Xi going to Moscow.
When asked about the Reuters report, the Kremlin said it had
nothing to say on the matter.
"As a rule, announcements of official foreign visits are
coordinated synchronously by mutual agreement of the parties,"
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
"When there is such readiness, we will let you know."
No other details were immediately available.
The sources briefed on the matter declined to be identified
given the sensitivity of the issue.
Last month, Putin hosted China's top diplomat Wang Yi on a visit
to Moscow. One source said that Wang's trip to Moscow was to
help prepare for Xi's visit.
China and Russia struck a "no limits" partnership in February of
2022, when Putin was visiting Beijing for the opening of the
Winter Olympics, weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. The two
sides have continued to reaffirm the strength of their ties.
Xi has met Putin in person 39 times since becoming president,
most recently in September during a summit in central Asia.
On Monday, Xi wrapped up the annual session of China's
parliament, the National People's Congress, during which he was
unanimously confirmed in a precedent-breaking third term as
president.
(Reporting by the Hong Kong, Beijing and Moscow newsrooms;
Editing by Robert Birsel, Guy Faulconbridge)
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