On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to China this year.
"I invited President Putin yesterday to visit China at a convenient time this year, because this year China will host the third international forum under the One Belt, One Road. President Putin took part in the previous two forums," Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The Chinese president also invited the Russian head of government to visit China as soon as possible to establish close ties. "I invite you to visit China as soon as possible to establish close ties with new Premier of the State Council Li Qiang," he said. Mishustin accepted Xi Jinping's invitation.
According to Xi Jinping, it is necessary to restore the mechanism of regular meetings between the heads of government of the two countries. The Chinese president also noted that there are other mechanisms of bilateral interaction that need to be intensified this year.
One Belt, One Road
As the Chinese leader noted, the One Belt, One Road initiative has always been "an important area of cooperation in China-Russia contacts."
Last November, during the 29th informal meeting of economic leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bangkok, the Chinese president said that China would study the possibility of holding the third international forum One Belt, One Road in 2023. The first One Belt, One Road forum was held in Beijing in May 2017 with the participation of top officials from Russia, China and 28 countries in Eurasia, Africa and Latin America. The second forum was held in the Chinese capital in April 2019.
The One Belt, One Road Initiative is a concept proposed in 2013 by Xi Jinping that aims to boost international trade and investment projects involving more countries and using the capital of interested states. More than 150 countries and international organizations have already joined it.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS