As soon as Putin started speaking at the summit in China, European Union representatives got up and started leaving.

China held a summit this week to celebrate the Belt and Road Corridor (BRI), a billion-dollar infrastructure project. President Xi Jinping opened the ceremony in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in the presence of many world leaders and more than 1,000 delegates, sharing the stage with Vladimir Putin. During this, just before Putin’s speech, many people including European representatives walked out of the summit. News agency Reuters reported that among those delegates was European Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former prime minister of France. Video of the event showed Raffarin and other delegates leaving the Great Hall.

One clip also showed Putin with his aides carrying a so-called nuclear briefcase, which could be used to order a nuclear attack. In his speech Putin thanked the Chinese leader for his invitation and said Russia could play an important role in the modern revival of China’s ancient Silk Road. President Putin said that Russia and China, like most countries in the world, share the desire for equal, mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve universal sustainable and long-term economic progress and social well-being, while respecting the civilizational diversity and rights of each. Are. States to have their own development models.

Russian President Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing and called for closer coordination in foreign policy. Concerns are growing about potential conflict with the West over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Beijing’s growing threats against Taiwan. Just weeks before Russia’s crackdown on Ukraine last February, Putin met Xi in Beijing and the two sides signed an agreement promising unlimited relations.