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Rabat – Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in China on Tuesday for a pivotal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This summit, part of a larger forum on President Xi’s signature project, the Belt and Road Initiative, comes at a time when global headlines are dominated by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
China is currently playing host to representatives from 130 nations, all gathering to engage with President Xi’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which is central to China’s strategy to extend its influence on the world stage through infrastructure and socio-economic development in partnering countries.
The primary objective of Putin’s visit is to strengthen the already robust relationship between Russia and its neighbor, even though Moscow is clearly to be the junior partner in this partnership. Experts anticipate that this meeting will be more of a symbolic gesture of support for Moscow, with few significant surprises expected.
The official talks between President Putin and President Xi are scheduled for Wednesday, according to the Kremlin. While the Kremlin did not elaborate, it stated that “during the talks, special attention will be paid to international and regional issues.”
Israel declared war on the Palestinian resistance group Hamas after an attack on its border on October 7.
Over a million people have been displaced, with scenes of chaos and despair unfolding in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian authorities, Israel’s military actions have resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people in Gaza, with the majority being civilians. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble as a consequence of Israeli airstrikes.
Western officials have criticized China for not explicitly mentioning Hamas in its statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. In addition, China has maintained a warm relationship with Iran, a nation that allegedly provides support to both Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that could potentially open a second front against Israel.
In a proactive move, China’s special envoy, Zhai Jun, is set to embark on a mission to the Middle East this week. His mission aims to promote a ceasefire and peace talks, although the specific locations have not yet been disclosed, as reported by China’s state broadcaster, CCTV.
