[1/3] Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a ceremony at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023.
Sputnik/Sergei Savostyanov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Putin praises 'dear friend' Xi, thanks for invitePutin heaps praise on BRIPutin says Northern Sea route is open for businessSome European delegates walk out as Putin speaksBEIJING, Oct 18 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited global investment in the Northern Sea route which he said could deepen trade between east and west.
Putin called Xi his "dear friend" and heaped praise on the Belt and Road Initiative for bringing the world together.
"Starting next year, navigation for ice-class cargo ships along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route will become year-round."
Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Guy FaulconbridgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Savostyanov, Putin, Xi, BRI Putin, Jean, Pierre Raffarin, Sergei Lavrov, Alexander Novak, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Dmitry Peskov, Maxim Oreshkin, Yuri Ushakov, Maxim Reshetnikov, Igor Morgulov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Laurie Chen, Guy Faulconbridge
Organizations:
Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Wednesday, Initiative, Soviet Union, French, Kremlin, Thomson
Locations:
Beijing, China, Northern, BEIJING, Ukraine, Russia, Murmansk, Russia's, Norway, Bering, Alaska, Moscow, North Korea