BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on a widely watched trip aimed at showcasing the trust and “nolimits” partnership between the countries even as the war in Ukraine raged on.
In only his second known trip abroad since the Haguebased International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March, Putin and his entourage flew into the Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning where he was greeted by the Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao. It is also the Kremlin chief’s first official trip outside of the former Soviet Union this year, after visiting Kyrgyzstanthis month.
The ICC, which accused Putin of illegally deporting children from Ukraine, obliges the court’s 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to the Hague for trial if he sets foot on their territory. Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC.
Xi last saw his “dear friend” in Moscow just days after the warrant was issued. At the time, Xi invited Putin to attend the third Belt and Road forum in Beijing. As Putin arrived at the Great Hall of the People for an evening banquet organised for global leaders and dignitaries attending the forum, Xi was all smiles as the two men shook hands.
On Wednesday at the forum, Putin will also speak after Xi gives his opening speech. The two will hold bilateral talks later that day. Beijing has rejected Western criticism of its partnership with Moscowinsisting that their ties do not violate international norms, and China has the right to collaborate with whichever country it chooses.
Putin has praised the the Belt and Road Forum, saying it is a platform for internatio nal cooperation, where “no one imposes anything on others”.The trip is not a “full-fledged bilateral” visit, but one made on the sidelines of an international conference, according to the Kremlin.