Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in Beijing this week on a visit aimed at emphasizing their shared vision for a new international order still dominated by the United States and its democratic allies.
The meeting between the two leaders took place when geopolitical dynamics are increasingly divided, after Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine, currently Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant group, Hamas has the potential to develop into a wider conflict that could shake stability in the Middle East. Both Beijing and Moscow have criticized Israel’s actions and called for a ceasefire, in the latest attempt by the two powers to promote their alternative leadership to the US, which asserts Israel’s right to persistent retaliation.
The meeting between the two leaders took place when it was confirmed that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, would travel to Israel in the middle of the third week of this month, to eradicate Hamas as well as find ways to ease humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Xi and Putin are likely to discuss the situation in their meeting this week after Putin arrived on Tuesday as a guest of honor at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing – an extremely rare foreign visit for the diplomatically isolated leader.
These two countries’ statements differ from those of the United States, which clearly stated its strong support for Israel. Xi and Putin also appear to be becoming increasingly aligned in presenting an alternative worldview that “challenges” the Western world. In that conflict too, China has tried to position itself as a potential mediator. However, while it is in China’s interest to encourage the Russian leader to end his invasion, Xi will probably be careful not to take any steps that could harm relations.
This week, Xi will also convene world leaders in Beijing for a high-level forum aimed at praising China’s role in supporting economic development over the past decade and projecting China’s growing ambitions as an alternative global leader to the United States. Leaders, representatives, and delegations from more than 140 countries, including those in the Middle East and many countries in the South, are expected to meet in the Chinese capital for the two-day meeting.