BEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to satisfy with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a broadly watched journey aimed toward showcasing the belief and “no-limits” partnership between the international locations even because the conflict in Ukraine raged on.
In solely his second identified journey overseas for the reason that Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March, Putin and his entourage flew into the Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning, in accordance with Reuters video footage.
He was greeted by the Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
It can also be the Kremlin chief’s first official journey outdoors of the previous Soviet Union this 12 months, after visiting Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, earlier this month.
The ICC, which accused Putin of illegally deporting kids from Ukraine, obliges the court docket’s 123 member states to arrest Putin and switch him to The Hague for trial if he units foot on their territory. Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC, established to prosecute conflict crimes.
Xi final noticed his “dear friend” in Moscow simply days after the warrant was issued. At the time, Xi invited Putin to attend the third Belt and Road discussion board in Beijing, a world cooperation discussion board championed by the Chinese chief.
Putin is to attend the discussion board’s official opening reception hosted by Xi and speak with the leaders of Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia and Laos on Tuesday, Russian media reported.
As the discussion board’s chief visitor, Putin will converse after Xi on Wednesday and can meet with the Chinese president for bilateral talks later that day.
Beijing has rejected Western criticism of its partnership with Moscow even because the conflict in Ukraine confirmed no signal of ceasing, insisting that their ties don’t violate worldwide norms, and China has the appropriate to collaborate with whichever nation it chooses.
[1/3]Russia’s President Vladimir Putin arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023. Parker Song/Pool through REUTERS Acquire Licensing Rights
Putin final visited China for the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022 when Russia and China declared a “no-limits” partnership days earlier than the Russian president despatched tens of 1000’s of troops into Ukraine.
It can be Putin’s third attendance of the Belt and Road Forum, which runs via Wednesday. He attended the 2 earlier boards in 2017 and 2019.
BELT AND ROAD
The discussion board centres on the Belt and Road initiative, a grand plan launched by Xi a decade in the past that he hopes would construct world infrastructure and vitality networks connecting Asia with Africa and Europe via overland and maritime routes.
Putin has praised the initiative, saying it’s a platform for worldwide cooperation, the place “no one imposes anything on others.”
Since the beginning of the Ukrainian battle, Russia has cemented its vitality ties with China in an indication of their financial cooperation.
Russia exports round 2.0 million barrels of oil per day to China, greater than a 3rd of its complete crude oil exports. Moscow additionally goals to construct a second pure fuel pipeline to China.
While the heads of Russia’s oil and fuel giants Rosneft and Gazprom can be half of Putin’s travelling delegation, no new offers in vitality may be anticipated.
The journey shouldn’t be a “full-fledged bilateral” go to, however one made on the sidelines of a world convention, in accordance with the Kremlin.
Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Christopher Cushing & Simon Cameron-Moore
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