President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (17 October) praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited global investment in the Northern Sea route which he said could deepen trade between east and west. Putin called Xi his “dear friend” and heaped praise on the Belt and Road Initiative for bringing the world together. Shortly before Putin starting speaking, a handful of European delegates, including former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, walked out of the room, a Reuters witness said. “Starting next year, navigation for ice-class cargo ships along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route will become year-round.”Putin, who has attended previous BRI summits, brought a senior delegation from Moscow. Among the senior Russian officials were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is due to visit North Korea shortly, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, his top oil and gas point man, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 18, 2023 05:59 UTC