Belt and Road key to Eurasian cooperation: Lavrov
Leaders of emerging market countries streamed into Beijing on Monday for a major forum marking the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). More than a dozen leaders from Africa, Asia and the Mideast were flying into Beijing on Monday, following the arrivals of Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday. Others are coming on Tuesday. Russian state news agencies cited Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that the BRI is key to promoting cooperation in the Eurasia region. "We consider this movement, this project as an important part of promoting cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit throughout the Eurasian continent," Lavrov said after meeting his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the capital. Lavrov added that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is to visit Beijing this week, will discuss all aspects of bilateral cooperation with President Xi Jinping. Wang, in turn, said China "appreciates" Russia's support for the Belt and Road Initiative. "Both sides should plan commemorative activities, deepen strategic mutual trust, consolidate traditional friendship, and promote friendship from generation to generation," he said. Under the Belt and Road initiative, mainland companies have built ports, roads, railways, power plants and other infrastructure around the world in a bid to boost trade and economic growth. A flurry of diplomacy is expected on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum, whose main events are on Wednesday. Orbán met Sunday with President Xi and Premier Li Qiang, Hungary's state news agency MTI said. The forums also were held in 2017 and 2019. The leaders who arrived on Monday included Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. (Agencies)