Credit By: Daryo.uz
China’s foreign ministry announced that China is getting ready to host the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on October 17–18. One of President Xi Jinping’s most notable projects, the forum will commemorate the Belt and Road Initiative’s tenth anniversary (BRI). Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the meeting, making one of his seldom overseas travels.
Historical Background and Importance
This year’s meeting is crucial because it is the Belt and Road Initiative’s tenth anniversary. Building global energy and infrastructure networks and establishing land and sea links between Asia, Africa, and Europe have been the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) goals since its founding. Many officials from many countries are anticipated to attend the meeting, especially from emerging nations in Latin America and Africa.
Putin’s Third Attendance in a Row
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has frequently attended the Belt and Road Forum; he was present at the events in 2017 and 2019. In September, the Kremlin issued a statement stating that Putin had accepted the invitation to attend this year’s forum and would be meeting with President Xi Jinping.
The Political Environment: Visit to Kyrgyzstan and the ICC
Putin is also anticipated to travel to Kyrgyzstan before the forum in Beijing. Curiously, neither Kyrgyzstan nor China have ratified the International Criminal Court (ICC), established to bring war crimes cases. Putin’s visit to these non-ICC members indicates a calculated move in response to continuing legal pressure.
The Debate Regarding the BRI
Opponents contend that China is using the Belt and Road Initiative to extend its geopolitical and economic influence despite its promotion as a rebirth of the historic Silk Road designed to promote international trade. These worries have sparked discussion and doubt about the fundamental goals of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Focus on Russia-China Relations
In a recent message to President Xi, Putin stressed that the goal of the two leaders’ future negotiations is to “deepen Russian-Chinese ties for the benefit of our friendly peoples, in the interest of ensuring security and stability on the Eurasian continent and throughout the world.”
International Involvement and Italy’s Doubt
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, agreements for cooperation along the Belt and Road have been inked by more than 30 international organizations and more than 150 countries. Notably, only Italy, out of the Group of Seven, has endorsed the project. Italy has now apologized for its choice to join the BRI in 2019, claiming there hasn’t been a noticeable increase in commercial relations with China.
The world will focus on the attendees and the following conversations as China gets ready to convene its third Belt and Road Forum. The forum is expected to be a significant venue for geopolitics and international relations with prominent participation like that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly in light of the ethical and legal disputes involving some of its major participants.
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