International Desk: According to Reuters video footage, Putin and his entourage landed at Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning. He was welcomed by Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.
He will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to further strengthen the ‘borderless’ partnership and participate in the forum on the Bolt and Road Initiative. He visited the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan earlier this month.
The ICC accuses Putin of illegally deporting children from Ukraine. The warrant obligates the court’s 123 member states by law to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he steps foot on their territory. However, neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC.
Xi last saw his “dear friend” in Moscow days after the warrant was issued. At that time, Xi invited Putin to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.
Putin will attend the official opening reception of the forum hosted by China and hold talks with the leaders of Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, and Laos.
Putin will speak after Xi on Wednesday as the forum’s chief guest and later hold a separate meeting with the Chinese president for bilateral talks.
