Putin arrives in China ahead of talks with ‘dear friend’ Xi on ‘international issues’

Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on October 17, 2023. (Parker Song / POOL / AFP)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on October 17, 2023. (Parker Song / POOL / AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in China to meet his “dear friend” Xi Jinping and bolster their relationship at a summit that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war.

China this week welcomes representatives of 130 countries for a forum of President Xi’s vast trade and infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

At the top of the guest list is Putin, who is on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation.

He is due to hold talks with Xi on the sidelines of the forum on Wednesday, the Kremlin says, with the war raging between Israel and Palestinian terror group Hamas looming large over the summit.

“During the talks, special attention will be paid to international and regional issues,” the Kremlin says in a statement, without elaborating.

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