Xi, Putin to deepen decade-long friendship at Beijing summit

AFP :
Ten years after toasting a budding friendship with vodka and cake, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin will meet again in Beijing on Wednesday seeking to further deepen the “no-limits” partnership between their two countries.

The two presidents share a strong personal bond, with Xi calling his Russian counterpart his “best friend” and Putin cherishing his “reliable partner”.

Their relationship has been a constant despite a decade of increasingly difficult relations with Western countries-exemplified by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which China has refused to condemn.

Putin touched down in Beijing just before 09:30 am on Tuesday, and the Kremlin said he would meet Xi for talks the following day.

His attendance at a leaders forum in the Chinese capital this week is not only a rare foreign trip for the Russian leader, but also an opportunity to pay homage to Xi’s signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.