Russian President Putin underscores unwavering partnership with China in a key diplomatic visit amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
BEIJING, October 17 (TUT Global) –
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a significant meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This visit holds paramount importance, aiming to highlight the trust and a “no-limits” partnership between the countries, even amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In what marks only his second known trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March, Putin, along with his delegation, landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning.
Putin Arrival on Beijing
Upon arrival, he was warmly greeted by the Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
This trip also holds significance as it’s Putin’s first official visit outside the former Soviet Union this year. Prior to this, he visited Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, earlier this month.
It’s important to note that Putin is under an ICC arrest warrant, accusing him of illegally deporting children from Ukraine. However, countries like Kyrgyzstan and China, where Putin has visited recently, are not members of the ICC, which is established to prosecute war crimes.
President Xi Jinping had previously met Putin in Moscow shortly after the ICC warrant was issued, where Xi invited Putin to attend the third Belt and Road forum in Beijing, a platform championed by the Chinese leader for international cooperation.
During this visit, Putin is set to participate in the forum’s official opening reception hosted by Xi and will engage in discussions with the leaders of Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, and Laos on Tuesday, as reported by Russian media.
As the forum’s chief guest, Putin is scheduled to address the audience after Xi on Wednesday and engage in bilateral talks with the Chinese president later the same day.
Putin’s last visit to China was during the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022 when Russia and China declared a “no-limits” partnership just days before Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine escalated.
This marks Putin’s third attendance at the Belt and Road Forum, previously participating in 2017 and 2019.
BELT AND ROAD
The Belt and Road Forum focuses on Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and Road initiative, launched a decade ago, with the aim of building global infrastructure and energy networks connecting Asia with Africa and Europe through overland and maritime routes.
Putin has lauded this initiative, regarding it as a platform for international cooperation, where “no one imposes anything on others.”
Amidst the Ukrainian conflict, Russia has notably strengthened its energy ties with China, showcasing their economic collaboration. Russia currently exports approximately 2.0 million barrels of oil per day to China, constituting more than a third of its total crude oil exports. Additionally, Moscow is actively planning to construct a second natural gas pipeline to China.
While key figures from Russia’s oil and gas giants Rosneft and Gazprom will be part of Putin’s traveling delegation, no new energy-related agreements are anticipated during this visit.
It’s important to emphasize that this trip is categorized as not a “full-fledged bilateral” visit, but rather one conducted on the sidelines of an international conference, according to the Kremlin.
