China president welcomes ‘dear friend’ Putin to Beijing

Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed his "dear friend” Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing yesterday, kicking off a multilateral summit overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war.Beijing this week hosts representatives of 130 countries for a forum on Xi’s vast trade and infrastructure project, the 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 Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine threw his regime into international isolation.The two leaders met yesterday evening at an event kicking off the forum, video posted by Russia’s foreign ministry showed, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.They also took part in a group photo with other leaders attending the summit.At an official banquet, Xi delivered a toast in which he alluded to recent geopolitical conflicts, but added that "the historical (trend) of peace” was "unstoppable”."Although the world today is not peaceful, downward pressure on the global economy is increasing, and global development faces a great deal of challenges, we firmly believe that the historical trends of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual wins are unstoppable,” said Xi, according to state news agency Xinhua. Putin is due to hold in-depth talks with Xi on the sidelines of the forum today, the Kremlin said."During the talks, special attention will be paid to international and regional issues,” the Kremlin said in a statement, without elaborating.In Beijing, Putin is on a mission to strengthen the already strong bond with his communist neighbour, though experts say Moscow is increasingly the junior partner in the relationship.China is Russia’s largest trading partner, with exchange between the nations reaching a record $190bn last year, Beijing customs data shows.Beijing has drawn criticism from Western countries for its stance on the Ukraine war, on which China insists it is neutral even as it refuses to criticise Moscow’s invasion.When Xi made a state visit to Moscow in March, Putin hailed the "truly unlimited possibilities” their countries’ partnership offered.But while the BRI forum provides a fresh opportunity for Putin and Xi to showcase their alliance, experts do not expect any new major agreements to be announced."Russia is aware that China doesn’t want to sign any high publicity deals,” Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said."China holds all of the cards,” he said.Xi kicked off the summit yesterday with talks with Chilean and Kazakhstan Presidents Gabriel Boric and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chinese state media reported.He then met Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, describing the conservative leader as a "friend” and thanking him for his support for the BRI, state news agency Xinhua reported.