Foreign Minister Lavrov visits China from the 16th to the 18th
With China announcing the date of the 3rd Belt and Road (Land and Maritime Silk Road) Summit Forum, attention is being paid to whether the China-Russia summit will take place.
On the 11th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced in a statement that the Belt and Road Summit Forum will be held in Beijing on the 17th and 18th.
Spokesperson Hua also said, “President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the summit forum, and hold a welcome banquet for distinguished guests visiting China and bilateral diplomatic activities.”
First of all, it is expected that a China-Russia summit will be held as an opportunity for the Belt and Road Summit Forum.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to visit China from the 16th to the 18th and hold talks with Chinese Communist Party Central Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the 10th (local time), “Minister Lavrov plans to hold a meeting with Commissioner Wang during his visit to Beijing from the 16th to the 18th.”
Spokesperson Zakharova did not comment on whether President Putin would visit China.
However, considering past comments by officials from both countries, a visit to China is highly likely.
On the 29th of last month, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told Russian media that “the leaders of the two countries will meet in China in October to discuss important strategic issues.”
Prior to this, President Putin met with Commissioner Wang in St. Petersburg and hinted at the possibility of visiting China in October.
The reason President Putin’s visit to China attracted attention is because it was his first overseas visit since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on war crimes charges in March. Because China is not a member of the ICC, it has no obligation to cooperate with the execution of the arrest warrant.
In addition, there are many important agenda items to be discussed by the two leaders, including the close relationship between North Korea and Russia, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the war in Ukraine, and the crisis in the Middle East.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.