China and Russia have called for enhanced cooperation once again at the “Silk Road Summit”.
As reported by Tagesschau, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised his “New Silk Road” initiative in his opening speech. The leader also spoke of a boost in the exchange of other goods, investments, and technologies. Christoph Nedopil from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, indicated that the initiative has transformed in recent years after facing substantial criticism. “The focus today is more on developing countries and not so much on international cooperation,” said Nedopil.
Hungarian Prime Minister among the guests
After the opening ceremony, Xi invited several heads of state and government to a banquet, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Despite the international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Putin faces no arrest in China, as the country does not recognize the court. Xi and Putin reaffirmed the cooperation between their countries on the sidelines of the summit. China is internationally criticized for continuing cooperation despite the war in Ukraine and also supplying weapons to Russia.
Image: kremlin.ru, Putin-Xi meeting (2023) 3, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)