China Set To Host Belt And Road Forum; Putin To Attend, Meet President Xi, In Rare Appearance Since Russia-Ukraine War

China is set to host its third Belt and Road Forum, scheduled for next week, a significant event initiated by President Xi Jinping, reported Reuters.

The forum, taking place in Beijing on 17 and 18 October, will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This event is expected to attract representatives from numerous developing nations, particularly from Latin America and Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has attended the two previous forums in 2017 and 2019, is set to make a rare international trip to attend this year's conference.

The Kremlin confirmed in September that Putin had accepted an invitation to the forum and for discussions with President Xi.

It is noteworthy that this marks one of Putin's few foreign visits since the Russia-Ukraine war and issuance of a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him in March over the deportation of children from Ukraine.

Ahead of the Beijing meeting, Putin is anticipated to visit Kyrgyzstan. Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC, which was set up to primarily prosecute war crimes.

The BRI, a decade-old initiative launched by China, envisions creating global infrastructure and energy networks to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through both land and maritime routes.

While the BRI is presented as an effort to enhance global trade by reviving the ancient Silk Route, critics perceive it as a means for China to expand its geopolitical and economic influence.

In a recent message to President Xi, Putin expressed that their discussions would strengthen Russian-Chinese relations and contribute to the security and stability of the Eurasian continent and the world.

China's foreign ministry stated that it has signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and more than 30 international organisations.

Notably, Italy, the only Group of Seven (G7) country that joined the BRI, has voiced criticisms, citing a lack of improvement in trade between Italy and China since its participation.