The multilateral summit currently taking place in Beijing is attracting all eyes on the international scene. Indeed, while the war between Israel and Hamas rages, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
This trip is of particular importance for Vladimir Putin who, since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has been faced with heavy sanctions from Western countries. Thus, he seeks to strengthen ties between Moscow and Beijing, which seem to have become indispensable for Russia.
China, for its part, is hosting the New Silk Roads forum, bringing together representatives from more than 130 countries. This forum is an opportunity for China to strengthen its international stature and promote its major economic and infrastructure development initiative.
During their meeting, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will discuss urgent problems of bilateral cooperation, but also the international agenda. It is very likely that the question of the Israel-Hamas war will be addressed, given China’s involvement in the region and its influence on Iran, a supporter of Hamas.
Although few experts expect major announcements at this meeting, it is clear that China currently holds the cards in the game. Russia, weakened by Western sanctions, finds itself in a position of unprecedented dependence on -towards China. However, it is important to note that China is not inclined to sign media agreements, which could limit the concrete results of this meeting.
Finally, it is interesting to point out that this multilateral summit is taking place in a particular context, with the war between Israel and Hamas as a backdrop. The world’s media have their eyes glued to this crisis, and Western leaders expect China to use its influence to calm the situation in the Middle East.
In conclusion, the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping during this multilateral summit in Beijing is of great importance for both countries. Russia is seeking to strengthen ties with China amid Western sanctions, while China asserts its international stature by hosting representatives from many countries. It remains to be seen the concrete results of this meeting and its impact on the international scene.