UAVs banned as China hosts Belt and Road Forum

The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau has officially banned the launch and use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the Chinese capital's hosting of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF), Russian news agency TASS reported on October 13.

TASS quoted a message from the local police agency as saying: “From October 16 to 19, all organizations and individuals are prohibited from using drones and other light-sized aircraft in Beijing.”

The ban covers all drones capable of flying at altitudes below 1,000 metres at speeds below 200 km/h and with a radar-reflective surface area below 2 square metres.

The 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is scheduled to take place on October 17-18, marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The BRI aims to symbolically recreate the ancient Silk Road, thereby giving China access to markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and other regions of the world , as well as enhancing international trade and investment projects involving multiple countries using Chinese and foreign capital. More than 150 countries and international organizations have joined the initiative.

Representatives and leaders from more than 130 countries are expected to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Beijing, May 14, 2017, to attend the first Belt and Road Forum (BRF). Photo: Xinhua

Mr Putin, who attended the previous two forums in 2017 and 2019, has confirmed his intention to attend this year's forum, and will hold high-level talks with Mr Xi Jinping.

President Putin, in a message to Mr. Xi this month, said the two leaders’ talks would deepen Russia-China relations “in the interests of our friendly peoples, in the interests of ensuring security and stability on the Eurasian continent and in the whole world.”

The trip to China will be the Russian leader's second foreign trip this year. Previously, on October 12-13, Mr. Putin visited and worked in the capital Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan.

The issue of Mr Putin's foreign travel has been in the spotlight since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president in March on charges of illegally taking hundreds of children from Ukraine - an accusation Moscow has denied.

Russia is not a member of the ICC. Kyrgyzstan and China are also not signatories to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, and are not obliged to execute the arrest warrant .

Minh Duc (According to TASS, Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/uav-bi-cam-khi-trung-quoc-to-chuc-dien-dan-vanh-dai-va-con-duong-a630995.html