China invites people to the big Silk Road summit in Beijing, and most democratic countries cancel. Vladimir Putin is the most prominent guest. The meeting is just as important for the Kremlin boss as it is for Xi Jinping.
It is certainly a special journey for him. Vladimir Putin has hardly been abroad since his war of aggression began in Ukraine in February 2022. He did visit some ex-Soviet republics, which are largely dependent on Russia anyway. But more than that, he canceled personal participation in most summits and often sent his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The reasons for this are diverse.
Putin has started a territorial war in the middle of Europe. That’s why many countries no longer invited the Kremlin leader. In addition, there were often security concerns in Moscow. After all, Putin could even be the victim of an assassination attempt or be arrested abroad. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has put him on notice for war crimes in Ukraine. That is why, in principle, all countries that recognize the ICC are obliged to arrest and extradite Putin.
For the Russian president, who, according to Russia experts, is already prone to paranoia and mistrust, these are important reasons not to leave Moscow. This earned him the nickname “Bunker Grandpa” from his critics in Russia. It is therefore important for Putin to once again present himself as a statesman abroad. He wants to show that he is not one thing: an outcast.
It is therefore no surprise that he now accepted the invitation of the head of state, whom he considers a friend. Xi Jinping has invited people to the anniversary summit of the Chinese “Belt and Road” development initiative in Beijing from Tuesday. It is a meeting from which both presidents – Putin and Xi – benefit. A meeting in which China and Russia aim at the West, in which they lay the saw on Europe.
Russia is dependent on China
Putin and Xi, who repeatedly describe themselves as “good friends”, met at the start of the Silk Road Forum on Tuesday, shook hands and briefly exchanged a few words. They then posed for a group photo with other participants in the meeting.
The Russian president could hardly refuse the Chinese invitation. After its invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent economic decoupling from the West, Russia is massively dependent on China. Chinese companies are trying to fill the gaps left by Western companies in Russia. China buys Russian raw materials, Russia’s reserve currency is the Chinese yuan and without a green light from Beijing, the Kremlin could not improve its relations with North Korea and presumably buy North Korean weapons for the Ukraine war.
That’s why Putin is coming to a summit that is particularly important for Xi. The New Silk Road project, launched ten years ago, has led to the construction of ports, railways, airports and industrial parks in Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond. These projects are intended to give China better access to other countries’ markets. The initiative has been harshly criticized internationally because it drives poorer countries into debt and dependence on China.
For Xi, the New Silk Road is the foundation for expanding Chinese influence. It is his passion project, which is now ten years old.
Headwind for Xi Jinping
That’s why representatives from 140 countries are taking part in the two-day forum in Beijing from Tuesday. Putin is considered the most important guest, but China is also trying to make the summit as pompous as possible. It is the largest international summit organized by the Chinese leadership in the People’s Republic since the corona pandemic.
