BEIJING: President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (Oct 18) praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited global investment in the Northern S
Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a ceremony at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China on Oct 17, 2023. and invited global investment in the Northern Sea route which he said could deepen trade between East and West.
"Russia and China, like most countries of the world, share the desire for equal, mutually beneficial cooperation in order to achieve universal sustainable and long-term economic progress and social well-being, while respecting the diversity of civilization and the right of each State to its own development model," Putin said.
"Starting next year, navigation for ice-class cargo ships along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route will become year-round."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.