Vladimir Putin fêted at Xi Jinping’s global Belt and Road summit

At a international conference in Beijing, Russian leader Putin, Vladimir received the red carpet care as China and Russia strengthened their ties.

The Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI ), which was spearheaded by China’s President Jinping Xi, commemorated 10 years of his signature foreign and economic policy.

Among officials and representatives from more than 130 nations, Mr. Putin was the honoree.

Since invading Ukraine in February of last year, he has hardly ever left his nation.

In addition to his growing diplomatic isolation, the International Criminal Court ( ICC) has also issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Given that Beijing is not a position party to the ICC figures, Mr. Putin is very unlikely to be detained in China. He and Mr. Xi are well known for their close friendship, with the Chinese president reportedly declaring just before the war that their nations had a” no limitations friendship.”

The proceeding on Wednesday began with an opening meeting held in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. In front of the rulers of various nations, Mr Xi and Mr. Putin entered the hall shoulder to shoulder as they made their entrances.

In the group pictures, Mr. Putin was also prominently displayed alongside the Taiwanese president. He spoke after President Xi. Later, they had a three-hour diplomatic meeting.

While Mr. Putin took pleasure in his attendance at earlier Belt and Road delegations, those were held prior to the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Since then, the West has criticized China for supporting Russia while even attempting to help Ukraine.

Mr. Putin was eager to repay the favor on Wednesday. In his speech, he expressed his support for Mr. Xi’s extensive BRI project, calling it” in tune with Russian ideas ,” and praised” our Chinese friends” for their accomplishments.

According to the BRI, China has invested an estimated trillion dollars worldwide in equipment and purchase jobs.

He even stated that” Russia, China, and the majority of states in the world share dreams” for cooperation and economic development while speaking to a gaggle of delegates who were primarily from the so-called Global South cluster of developing nations.

The arrival of Mr. Putin coincides with worries that China and Russia are forming their own union to compete with the West.

Both nations have publicly criticized the US-led” world identity” and advocated for a” multipolar” world with more power centers.

China published two white papers in the months leading up to the BRI’s celebration, portraying it as the cornerstone of a fresh global order that it casts as more equitable and simply.

Mr. Xi continued to emphasize this point throughout his conversation, which was rife with links to the Silk Road and vivid proverbs. The BRI, he claimed,” represents the advancement of our days and the right path ahead” and was” on the correct side of history.”

He criticized” ideological conflict, geopolitical rivalry, and bloc politics ,” as well as” unilateral sanctions” and” decoupling” supply chains. Beijing has frequently criticized Washington for leading what it considers to be an unjust globalization process.

The BRI, in contrast, has promoted” win-win co-operation ,” according to which” the flame runs higher when everyone adds wood.”

Additionally, Mr. Xi outlined an eight-point strategy for advancing the BRI, which included promoting smaller initiatives,” natural development,” and” integrity building.”

The BRI has received a lot of praise for promoting development in many nations, but it has also come under fire for burdening borrowers with enormous bill, harming the environment, and encouraging corruption and useless projects.

Most of the nations attending the conference in Beijing are from Africa, South East Asia, and South America. Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, and staff from the Taliban government of Afghanistan are also present.