As it happened: Xi Jinping unveiled new action plan for Belt and Road Initiative, Vladimir Putin gave first international address since Ukraine war

Xi announced an eight-point vision for the infrastructure scheme, including funding and green development pledges
Both the Chinese and Russian leaders keep the focus on economics and did not address issues such as the conflicts in the Middle East or Ukraine

Belt and Road Initiative

Josephine MaandKawala Xie

Published: 9:32am, 18 Oct 2023

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Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the belt and road forum in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

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Introduction

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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s address at Wednesday’s opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be closely watched for any new light he may shed on the future of the global infrastructure initiative.

Representatives from 140 countries and 30 global organisations are attending the forum, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Among them is Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who will speak after Xi, as well as leaders and businesspeople from across the developing world.

The forum is also intended to position China as a leader among less developed countries and as a global power.

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