Chinese Leader and the "Wealthy of the World": Who Made the Guest List?

Now, on March 28, Xi Jinping is set to meet with executives from major Western companies. Expected participants include top managers from Saudi Aramco, HSBC, Pfizer, Mizuho, Moller-Maersk, Qualcomm, Standard Chartered, TotalEnergies, and other corporations that hold leading positions in their respective industries. In total, more than 70 representatives of major international companies and banks are expected to attend the meeting.

However, there is not a single representative from Russia among the invited guests. This raises questions about the actual level of economic interaction between Moscow and Beijing. Despite statements about the "unbreakable friendship" between the two countries, China appears to be playing its own geopolitical game, prioritizing cooperation with economically stronger and more technologically advanced partners.

It is worth noting that Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of relations with Russia. He has highlighted that Beijing and Moscow are "true friends" whose alliance has withstood numerous challenges. However, in the realm of international business, China seems to be more focused on engaging with companies that can provide cutting-edge technology and access to financial markets.

Why, then, were Russian business representatives not invited to this significant event? Does this indicate Beijing's reluctance to associate its economic strategy with a country under international sanctions? Or is this another diplomatic maneuver allowing China to navigate between different centers of influence?

Ultimately, the question of Russia's role in the global economic club remains open. And if even its strategic partner does not invite its business elite to key meetings, perhaps Moscow has already lost its place among the world's economic powerhouses.