Day: October 17, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday morning to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will be held on October 17 and 18. The forum is a high-level platform for promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure development project launched by China in 2013.
Putin will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders to discuss the cooperation and coordination of the two countries on various issues, such as trade, energy, security, and regional stability. Putin and Xi will also witness the signing of a number of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding.
Putin has expressed his support for the Belt and Road Initiative, saying that it is “in line with the interests of both Russia and China” and that it can “contribute to the prosperity and well-being of our peoples”.
The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America through a network of roads, railways, ports, pipelines, and other infrastructure projects. According to China, more than 140 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China on the initiative. However, some critics have raised concerns about the transparency, sustainability, and debt risks of the initiative.