Putin says he will 'gladly' accept President Xi's invitation to visit China

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on June 20 in Saint Petersburg.

Putin told Xuexiang that he "will gladly accept the invitation" of President Xi Jinping to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, and WWII commemorations between August 31 - September 3. He also met the Secretary General of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, to whom he expressed his hope of oil demand remaining on a "high level".