The tenth anniversary of China’s ambitious BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) which has the personal imprimatur of Chinese President Xi Jinping got off to a relatively modest start in Beijing on Tuesday, 17 October with 23 heads of state/government attending what China had billed as a ‘major international event’.

Pitched as the “Third Forum of the BRI” ( earlier ones were held in 2017 and 2019 respectively) the Covid pandemic had led to a delay in convening the forum in the interregnum. In 2019 as many as 37 leaders attended the event and the high-level participation this year has been of a lower number.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the guest of honor was accorded a visibly warm welcome as a “dear friend” by his Chinese host, even as global attention was focused on Israel’s reprisal against Hamas in Gaza and the rapidly unfolding human tragedy.

Image: the Quint