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The country’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin, in a rare overseas trip, will attend the third Belt and Road Forum in China next week. This event is a signature of President Xi Jinping.
China host Belt and Road forum: A conference in Beijing on October 17–18 will commemorate the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Xi promoted. The event has scheduled delegations from many developing nations, particularly those in Latin America and Africa, to attend.
The Kremlin said in September that Putin has accepted an invitation to the forum and for discussions with Xi. Putin participated in the two prior gatherings in 2017 and 2019.
Since the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for him in March in connection with the deportation of children from Ukraine, it is unknown whether the Russian president has travelled outside of the country.
On Thursday, preceding the summit in Beijing, Putin plans to travel to Kyrgyzstan. The International Criminal Court (ICC), established to prosecute war crimes, does not have Kyrgyzstan or China as its members.
China introduced the BRI, a plan for global energy and infrastructure networks, a decade ago with the goal of establishing land and sea routes that would link Asia with Africa and Europe.
However, many see the idea as a means for China to expand its geopolitical and economic power. The concept is marketed as reviving the historic Silk Road to boost global trade.
“Putin and Xi Strengthen Russian-Chinese Ties for Eurasian and Global Security”
Putin said in a statement to Xi this month that their discussions would strengthen Russian-Chinese ties “for the benefit of our friendly peoples, in interests of ensuring security and stability on the Eurasian continent and throughout the world”.
According to the foreign ministry, China has agreements for cooperation on the Belt and Road with more than 150 nations and 30 international organisations.
The 2019 decision by a previous government to join the BRI project has drawn criticism from Italy, the only member of the Group of Seven to do so. Further, Its foreign minister recently said that commerce between Italy and China had not improved.