BEIJING: China will maintain its third Belt and Street discussion board in its capital subsequent week, Beijing mentioned Wednesday (Oct 11), confirming the small print of an occasion that a number of overseas leaders are anticipated to attend — together with Vladimir Putin.
Representatives from over 130 nations are set to participate within the occasion celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Beijing’s huge infrastructure initiative.
“Chinese language President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the discussion board and ship a keynote speech,” overseas ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying mentioned.
He can even “maintain a welcome banquet for overseas leaders and heads of worldwide organisations attending the discussion board”, she added.
Russian President Putin has mentioned he’ll attend the occasion, in what might be his first go to to China since his battle in Ukraine threw him into worldwide isolation.
China and Russia describe one another as strategic allies, continuously touting their “no limits” partnership and financial and army cooperation.
They got here even nearer following the invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin searching for to deepen ties with Beijing after discovering itself more and more ostracised by the West.
China has refused to sentence the battle, and has tried to place itself as a impartial social gathering, whereas on the identical time providing Moscow an important diplomatic and monetary lifeline.
Moscow’s overseas ministry mentioned Tuesday that prime diplomat Sergei Lavrov would additionally attend subsequent week’s Belt and Street discussion board and maintain talks with Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi.
“We welcome nations and companions actively taking part within the Belt and Street Initiative to return to Beijing to debate cooperation plans and search widespread improvement,” one other overseas ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned final month.