The President of Russia summed up the results of the Time zone and Road Forum
Two days of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s work in Beijing at the Time zone and Road Forum were filled with events. The head of state addressed the participants twice and then held a series of bilateral meetings. After Russia-China talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin met with the presidents of Azerbaijan, Serbia, Cyprus, Egypt, and the State Counsellor of Myanmar. At the end of the forum, the President made several important statements on foreign policy, including the situation in Ukraine.
Moscow and Beijing: A Shared Path and Common Values
The necessity of fighting protectionism and fostering economic integration among the countries of Eurasia became key themes in Putin’s address to his colleagues. At the opening ceremony, Vladimir Putin called on the international community to develop an effective response to rising protectionism, unilateral sanctions, and trade wars. At the press conference, the Russian leader returned to this topic, emphasizing that no one wants trade wars except those who provoke them.
That is why, in the opinion of the Russian President, the Belt and Road Initiative has a promising future. After all, “the liberal values that China is now defending are needed by the entire global economy.”
What is BRI?
It is China’s global infrastructure project aimed at connecting the entire Eurasian region by land (the Silk Road Economic Belt) and by sea (the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road). The project was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 and has been actively implemented ever since.