Beijing: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
Xi invited his “dear friend” Putin to China’s third Belt and Road Initiative forum where the leaders of 130 countries will discuss one of Xi’s signature international projects.
China this week welcomes representatives of 130 countries for a Belt and Road Initiative forum that it hopes will help boost its international standing.
Putin is at the top of the invitation list, with the Russian leader on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation.
He is on a mission to strengthen the already strong relationship with his communist neighbour, though Moscow is increasingly the junior partner.
Experts expect few big surprises during the Russian leader’s visit to China, seeing the meeting as more a symbolic gesture of support for Moscow.
“Russia is aware that China doesn’t want to sign any high publicity deals,” Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told AFP.
“China holds all of the cards,” he said.
The Kremlin said the two leaders would meet on Wednesday “on the sidelines” of the BRI forum.
And global headlines will be dominated by Israel’s war with Palestinian militant organisation Hamas.
