The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, received a warm welcome with all the honors typically reserved for a distinguished guest at a global summit in Beijing, where China and Russia continue to strengthen their alliance. This gathering, hosted by China's President Xi Jinping, commemorated the tenth anniversary of his flagship foreign and economic policy, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Among the leaders and officials hailing from over 130 countries, Mr. Putin was the centerpiece, a stark contrast to his relative seclusion since the invasion of Ukraine in February the previous year. He not only faces mounting diplomatic isolation but has also been the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine.

It is highly improbable that Mr. Putin will be apprehended in China, as Beijing is not a signatory to the ICC's statutes. The close relationship between Putin and Xi is well-known, with Xi having once declared their countries to have a "no limits friendship" shortly before the conflict erupted.

The summit on Wednesday commenced with a grand opening ceremony held in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, where Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin made a joint entrance, walking shoulder to shoulder ahead of other world leaders. They were also prominently positioned in the group photo, and Mr. Putin was the second to address the assembly after Mr. Xi. Following this, they engaged in a three-hour bilateral meeting in which topics of discussion included Ukraine and the Middle East.

Mr. Putin went on to emphasize the increasing global conflicts, stating at a news conference, "All these external factors are shared threats and they enhance the cooperation between Russia and China."

While Mr. Putin had previously held a prominent role in Belt and Road summits, these events occurred prior to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. As a result, China has faced criticism from Western nations for its steadfast support of Russia, even as it attempted to show solidarity with Ukraine.

During the summit, Mr. Putin was eager to reciprocate this support, expressing his commitment to President Xi's ambitious BRI project and asserting that it aligns with Russian ideals. He praised "our Chinese friends" for their accomplishments. The BRI has entailed China investing an estimated trillion dollars into global infrastructure and development projects.

Addressing a diverse audience primarily comprising representatives from developing countries, Mr. Putin also asserted that "Russia, China, and the majority of world states share common aspirations for cooperation and economic advancement."

Mr Putin's visit comes amid fears that China and Russia are building their own bloc to rival the West.

Both countries have publicly denounced the US-led "global hegemony" and have called for a "multipolar" world with more centers of power.

In the lead-up to the BRI's anniversary, China released two white papers positioning the BRI as the bedrock of a new world order, one that it casts as more just and inclusive.

In his speech littered with Silk Road references and colourful proverbs, Mr Xi continued to stress this point. He said the BRI "represents the advancing of our times and the right path forward", and was "on the right side of history".

He denounced "ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics", unilateral sanctions and "decoupling" supply chains. Beijing has often criticized Washington for leading what it sees as an unfair form of globalisation.

In contrast, the BRI has encouraged "win-win co-operation" where "the flame runs higher when everyone adds wood".

Mr Xi also laid out an eight-point plan on taking the BRI forward, including promoting smaller projects, "green development" and "integrity building".

The BRI has been widely lauded for spurring development in many countries but has also been criticised for saddling borrowers with mountains of debt, damaging the environment, and fuelling corruption and wasteful projects.

The summit in Beijing has attracted countries mostly from Africa, South East Asia, and South America. Other attendees include Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and representatives from Afghanistan's Taliban government.

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