CNN: Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the conflict in the Middle East during a meeting on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Wednesday. The Russian leader said “common threats” have brought the two countries closer together. The international meeting, which brought world leaders, representatives and delegations from more than 140 countries to the Chinese capital, took place under the shadow of a war between Israel and the militant group Hamas that threatens to escalate into a wider regional conflict. Both leaders noted the common threats, and how those threats are bringing Russia and China closer together. However, they did not directly condemn Hamas, which contrasts with U.S. and European leaders’ support for Israel.
The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s ambitious communications and trade project, was the focus of the event. Putin praised it as aimed at creating a fairer multipolar world and emphasized the importance of cooperation between Russia and China. Xi, for his part, expressed China’s aspirations to lead and change the global world order, opposing unilateral sanctions and emphasizing cooperation. This meeting between Putin and Xi underscores the deepening political trust between the two leaders and their vision of an alternative world order that challenges the influence of Western powers.
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