Putin in China to meet Xi

Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday to strengthen mutual relations and to meet his “dear friend” Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) summit, which was overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war.

This week, China welcomed the representatives of 130 countries to participate in President Xi’s trade and infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit. Putin is at the top of the guest list. This is Putin’s first foreign visit as a major world power after Russia’s attack on Ukraine isolated his regime internationally.

According to the Kremlin, he will meet Chinese President Xi during the BRI Forum. The outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has overshadowed the BRI summit.

“During the talks, special attention will be paid to international and regional issues,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

After the deadly attack by Hamas in the history of Israel on October 7, Western countries under the leadership of America have been showing their presence in favor of Israel. The attack by Hamas killed more than 1,400 people, including most civilians.

The US has urged China to use its ‘influence’ to reduce the war. More than 1 million civilians have fled their homes since Hamas began bombing Gaza in retaliation for the attack.

Earlier this year, China mediated between former regional enemies Iran and Saudi Arabia. In addition, special envoy Zhai June has been sent to the Middle East this week to promote a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and to advance peace talks. However, China’s state broadcaster CCTV has not mentioned which country Zhai will visit in the Middle East.

Russia, which traditionally has good relations with Israel and Palestinian authorities, has called for an immediate ceasefire.

In Beijing, Russian President Putin is on a campaign to strengthen already strong ties with China, but according to experts, Moscow is rapidly becoming a minor partner in relations with China.

China is Russia’s largest trading partner. Last year, the trade between these two countries reached one trillion and 90 billion dollars, according to the Beijing customs data.

Western countries have been criticizing China for Beijing’s stance on the Ukraine war. China has refused to criticize Moscow for Russia’s attack on Ukraine and has been saying that it is neutral on the matter.

Although the BRI gives Putin and Xi a new opportunity to showcase their alliance, experts expect no major new deal to be announced between the two countries.

“Russia knows that China will not agree to sign any agreement for high propaganda,” said Alexander Gabeyev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, “all the cards are in China’s hands.”

“Reunion of Friends”

According to the Chinese government media, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a meeting with the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and the President of Kazakhstan, Kasim-Jomart Tokayev, and started the BRI Forum on Tuesday.

Before the start of the summit, the top diplomats of China and Russia sang the same song when they met in Beijing on Monday. According to Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov thanked China for inviting Putin as the ‘chief guest’ of the summit. It is said that Putin will visit North Korea after China.

In a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that when Putin and Xi meet this week, the two countries will discuss “comprehensively”. In response, Wang expressed his “thanks” for Russia’s support for the BRI.