PRESS RELEASE

---

Chinese Announce Putin To Be ‘Guest of Honor’ at G20 Summit in China

Aug. 5, 2016 (EIRNS)—An official of the Foreign Ministry of China yesterday announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be the ’guest of honor’ at the G20 Summit in September, hosted by China in the city of Hangzhou. Putin has been invited by President Xi Jinping, who will hold a full-scale bilateral meeting with Putin, during the summit period.

Gui Congyou, Director of the Ministry’s Department of European-Central Asian Affairs, told reporters that the

"presence of Russia at the Summit is utterly important for China and the whole world as well. Without Russia, it is impossible to restore the world economy."

Reporting this on Aug. 4, pravdareport.com commented that Gui

"also claimed that China and Russia are the main powers in Eurasia and their strategic alliance secures safety and balanced development all over the continent."

In addition to the members of the G20, China has invited several guest country participants. They so far include, from Africa—Egypt, Senegal and Chad; from South Asia—Pakistan; and from Southeast Asia—Thailand and Laos.

On Aug. 3, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed what he called the 30-day "countdown" to the G20 Summit, which will take place Sept. 4-5. He said that its theme will be, "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." Speaking in Laos, at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Wang reviewed the dozens of advance meetings that have taken place before the Summit. He said that the September gathering will be very productive, in contrast to the previous summit. He foresees some 30 major results to be achieved at the event.