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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday to meet his “dear friend” Xi Jinping and bolster their relationship at a summit that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war.
China this week welcomes representatives of 130 countries for a forum on President Xi’s vast trade and infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative.
At the top of the guest list is Putin, who is on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation.
He is due to hold talks with Xi on the sidelines of the forum on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, with the war raging between Israel and Palestinian militant organisation Hamas looming large over the summit.
