Vladimir Putin arrives in China to meet his “dear friend” Xi Jinping

The Russian President, Vladimir Putinarrived on Tuesday China to meet yourDear friend” Xi Jinpingduring a multilateral summit that will be overshadowed in part by the conflict between Israel and the Islamic movement Hamas.

Putin got off the plane after landing Beijing shortly before 09:30 (01:30 GMT), for a mission aimed at strengthening the already strong ties of Moscow with your communist neighbor.

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China this week welcomes representatives from 130 countries for a forum on Xi’s main project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which allowed Beijing to expand its global influence.

Putin tops the guest list and is due to meet his Chinese counterpart on Wednesday, his first visit to a world power since the invasion of Ukraine left his country internationally isolated.

“During the talks, special attention will be paid to international and regional issues.“, indicated the Kremlin without giving further details.

Its mission is to strengthen an already strong relationship with Beijing, in which Moscow is increasingly the junior partner.

Experts rule out big surprises in Putin’s visit to Chinawhich is seen more as a symbolic gesture of support for Moscow.

Russia is aware that China does not want to sign any high-profile deals, he told AFP Alexandre Gabuevdirector of Carnegie Center for Russia and Eurasia.

“China holds all the cards”.

Although leaders met during the BRI summit, world attention will be dominated by Israel’s war with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

Israel declared war on Hamas after fighters from that group entered Israel on October 7, where they killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.

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Israeli retaliatory bombings left around 2,750 people dead in Gaza stripmostly civilians, according to Palestinian authorities.

The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenasked China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yiuse Beijing’s influence on Middle East to calm the situation.

China maintains close relations with Willwhose clerical leaders support Hamas is for Hezbollah Lebanese, which could open a second front against Israel.

The special envoy from Beijing, Zhai Junwill visit the Middle East this week to seek a ceasefire and peace talks, Chinese state television CCTV reported, without giving details about the countries he will visit.

Friends meeting

Putin and Xi will discuss bilateral relationsin its entirety” when they meet on Wednesday, said the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrovto his colleague Wang.

In turn, Wang assured that China “appreciate” Russian support for the Belt and Road Initiative.

“Both parties should plan commemorative activities, deepen strategic mutual trust, consolidate their traditional friendship and promote intergenerational friendship.“added the Chinese minister.

The two countries share a symbiotic relationship in which China values ​​the role of Russia as a bulwark against the West, while Moscow increasingly depends on Beijing’s commercial and geopolitical support.

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“Since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, it has found itself in a position of unprecedented dependence on China.“, he told AFP Bjorn Alexander Dubenfrom Jilin University, China.

At the core of this alliance is the personal relationship between Xi and Putin, who call themselves “Dear friends”.

“President Xi Jinping calls me friend and I call him friend too” Putin told Chinese state television CGTN before his visit, according to a Kremlin statement.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.