Vladimir Putin arrived in China where he is due to meet President Xi Jinping

His plane landed shortly before 9:30 a.m. in Beijing (3:30 a.m. Paris time). Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday October 17, where he is due to meet his counterpart and “Dear friend” Xi Jinping. The country is hosting representatives from some 130 countries until Wednesday for the “New Silk Roads” forum (also called “The Belt and Road” project), a major diplomatic event which should help strengthen its international stature.

A leading guest, Vladimir Putin is making his first trip to a major world power since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which helped to isolate Russia from many other states. “On October 18, 2023 in Beijing, on the sidelines of the Third International Belt and Road Forum, discussions will take place between the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping”announced Moscow.

The two men “will discuss in a friendly and frank manner”

The two men “will discuss in a friendly and frank manner (…) urgent issues of bilateral practical cooperation and the international agenda”explained the Kremlin’s diplomatic advisor, Yuri Ushakov.

Last March, Vladimir Putin received Xi Jinping and they showed their understanding, advocating a strengthening of economic and military cooperation to counter what they present as American hegemony.

Heavily sanctioned by the West because of its offensive against Ukraine, Russia has been seeking for several months to strengthen ties – economic, military or even in the energy field -, already very good, with China, which seems to have taken the ascendant in their bilateral relations – unbalanced with the Russian weakening due to the war.