"Putin meets China's Xi as leaders head to Moscow for WWII parade - AFP 08 May 2015
MOSCOW: China's Xi Jinping flew into Moscow on Friday (May 8) as some two dozen world leaders headed to Russia for a grandiose World War II victory parade that has been snubbed by the West.
Russia will roll out its military might at the Red Square parade to mark 70 years since victory over Nazi Germany from 10am on Saturday with 16,000 troops and a display of hardware including the latest generation Armata tanks.
Xi sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday for talks that were expected to yield some 40 joint agreements, according to the Kremlin, with reports saying they could range from possible energy cooperation to cyber security.
"We are very happy to see our Chinese friends at a time when the whole Russian people are celebrating victory," Putin said at the start of the meeting, state-run agency RIA Novosti reported.
Western leaders have opted not to attend the event as they are locked in a bitter standoff with Russia over the Ukraine crisis, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel will fly in Sunday for a wreath laying ceremony and talks with Putin.
More than 20 national leaders watching the parade will include Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Cuban President Raul Castro, who met Putin for talks on Thursday, as well as Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.
The gaps in attendance are a sign of Russia's shifting standing in the world as it has pivoted towards bolstering alliances in Asia, South America and Africa in the face of Western sanctions over Ukraine.
China is Russia's largest trade partner. Putin and Xi last met in November at the APEC summit in Beijing, when Putin breached protocol by wrapping China's first lady in a shawl."
Politics! International politics is about 'what's in it for me?' in the purest form. Hard for idealist like me to stomach but stomached I must!
Lessons for me are:
1. let's not pretend that international powers are really interested in world peace, co-existence and co-prosperity. But surely do they not want justice for all? That the strong will take care of the weak?;
2. did they NOT fought the 'just' wars in WWII to save the poor and the weak from the greedy and the evil? Europe and Asia were the main battlegrounds where millions died. Many in the most humiliating and painful deaths. Did the allied not triumph over the evil forces who were 'bullying' everyone to submit regardless of their protests? Alas, some said the 'victors' did it for their own benefits. Many of these victors go on to master much resources for a few decades. USA became to sole 'so-called' superpower and self-appointed world police and law maker! Alas, that order is soon to be broken with the rise of the sleeping China dragon!;
3. Putin, the nationalist, who never did forget the respects and awes friends and enemies look at the old 'USSR'. A glory past he supposedly wants to re-create. So, the East Ukraine incident that makes him the 'most hated Russian' on earth? Anyway, this type of situation is perfect for international politics as some players dance with some players and not the other.
It is fun to watch the USA feeling quite hapless with Russia and China dancing intimately. Of course, how long this dance will last is any body's guess? or as long as 'what's in me' is not longer 'good enough' for one of them. :-)
MOSCOW: China's Xi Jinping flew into Moscow on Friday (May 8) as some two dozen world leaders headed to Russia for a grandiose World War II victory parade that has been snubbed by the West.
Russia will roll out its military might at the Red Square parade to mark 70 years since victory over Nazi Germany from 10am on Saturday with 16,000 troops and a display of hardware including the latest generation Armata tanks.
Xi sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday for talks that were expected to yield some 40 joint agreements, according to the Kremlin, with reports saying they could range from possible energy cooperation to cyber security.
"We are very happy to see our Chinese friends at a time when the whole Russian people are celebrating victory," Putin said at the start of the meeting, state-run agency RIA Novosti reported.
Western leaders have opted not to attend the event as they are locked in a bitter standoff with Russia over the Ukraine crisis, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel will fly in Sunday for a wreath laying ceremony and talks with Putin.
More than 20 national leaders watching the parade will include Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Cuban President Raul Castro, who met Putin for talks on Thursday, as well as Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.
The gaps in attendance are a sign of Russia's shifting standing in the world as it has pivoted towards bolstering alliances in Asia, South America and Africa in the face of Western sanctions over Ukraine.
China is Russia's largest trade partner. Putin and Xi last met in November at the APEC summit in Beijing, when Putin breached protocol by wrapping China's first lady in a shawl."
Politics! International politics is about 'what's in it for me?' in the purest form. Hard for idealist like me to stomach but stomached I must!
Lessons for me are:
1. let's not pretend that international powers are really interested in world peace, co-existence and co-prosperity. But surely do they not want justice for all? That the strong will take care of the weak?;
2. did they NOT fought the 'just' wars in WWII to save the poor and the weak from the greedy and the evil? Europe and Asia were the main battlegrounds where millions died. Many in the most humiliating and painful deaths. Did the allied not triumph over the evil forces who were 'bullying' everyone to submit regardless of their protests? Alas, some said the 'victors' did it for their own benefits. Many of these victors go on to master much resources for a few decades. USA became to sole 'so-called' superpower and self-appointed world police and law maker! Alas, that order is soon to be broken with the rise of the sleeping China dragon!;
3. Putin, the nationalist, who never did forget the respects and awes friends and enemies look at the old 'USSR'. A glory past he supposedly wants to re-create. So, the East Ukraine incident that makes him the 'most hated Russian' on earth? Anyway, this type of situation is perfect for international politics as some players dance with some players and not the other.
It is fun to watch the USA feeling quite hapless with Russia and China dancing intimately. Of course, how long this dance will last is any body's guess? or as long as 'what's in me' is not longer 'good enough' for one of them. :-)
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