… Putin visits ‘dear friend’ Xi in show of no-limits partnership …

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BEIJING, Oct 17 2023 – Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a widely

watched trip aimed at showcasing the trust and “no-limits” partnership between the countries even as the war in Ukraine raged on.

In only his second known trip abroad since the Hague-based 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 Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic,

earlier this 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, established to prosecute war crimes.

Xi last saw his “dear friend“ in Moscow just days after the warrant was issued.

At the time, Xiinvited Putin to attend the third Belt and Road forum in Beijing, an international cooperation forum championed by

the Chinese leader.

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.

Putin, as the forum’s chief guest, stood to the right of Xi as world leaders posed for group photographs at the Great Hall.

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 Moscow even as the war in Ukraine showed no sign of ceasing,

insisting that their ties do not violate international norms, and China has the right to collaborate with whichever country it chooses.

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