THE third Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation (BRF) began today in the Chinese capital, Beijing, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to attend the opening ceremony of the BRF on Tuesday and deliver a keynote speech.

Representatives from over 140 countries and 30-plus international organisations are due to attend the two-day event. 

More than 4,000 delegates have also registered to take part in the forum.

President Xi will use the forum to help set out the next phase in the development of the BRI.

In 2013, Mr Xi set out his proposal to jointly build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st century Maritime Silk Road, which was labelled as the Belt and Road Initiative.

The BRI has evolved over its 10 years, with China signing more than 200 BRI co-operation agreements with over 150 countries and more than 30 international organisations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing today for a visit that underscores his country’s support for the BRI and close co-operation with China.

In an interview to Chinese state media, Mr Putin praised the massive but loosely linked BRI projects.

“We see that some people consider it an attempt by the People’s Republic of China to put someone under its thumb, but we see otherwise, we just see desire for co-operation,” he told broadcaster CCTV.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has praised the Chinese policy as bringing development to neglected areas.

Asked by reporters Friday about his visit, Mr Putin said it would encompass talks on Belt and Road-related projects, which he said Moscow wants to link with efforts by an economic alliance of former Soviet Union nations mostly located in central Asia to “achieve common development goals.”

Mr Putin said he and his Chinese counterpart would also use the visit to discuss growing economic ties between Moscow and Beijing in energy, tech and financial industries.

This work dovetails with their work in the increasingly influential Brics nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

It is also argued that ties being developed through the BRI help to subvert the political, economic and military power of the United States and its allies.

Political analyst Carlos Martinez, who is attending the forum, said: “Fellow delegates are from Gambia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Cambodia and elsewhere. 

“They represent a wide range of worldviews, but none are susceptible to the pro-imperialist ideas that are received wisdom in the West.”