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| Vladimir Putin’s gallantry gets cold shoulder at chilly Apec summit | Vladimir Putin’s gallantry gets cold shoulder at chilly Apec summit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It was a small, chivalrous gesture by Vladimir Putin: draping a shawl around the Chinese president’s wife at the chilly opening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Beijing. | It was a small, chivalrous gesture by Vladimir Putin: draping a shawl around the Chinese president’s wife at the chilly opening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Beijing. |
| But it was enough to make China’s censors swing into action, removing footage of the Russian president placing the wrap around Peng Liyuan from news sites. They were apparently prompted by jokey comments portraying Putin’s solicitude as improper – a no-go in a country where coverage of leaders’ families is strictly controlled. | But it was enough to make China’s censors swing into action, removing footage of the Russian president placing the wrap around Peng Liyuan from news sites. They were apparently prompted by jokey comments portraying Putin’s solicitude as improper – a no-go in a country where coverage of leaders’ families is strictly controlled. |
| Beijing is also highly sensitive about major events such as summits. Officials stopped Chinese websites and smartphone apps from publishing US embassy data that showed embarrassingly high levels of pollution on Monday, and placed activists such as Hu Jia and Ni Yulan under house arrest. | Beijing is also highly sensitive about major events such as summits. Officials stopped Chinese websites and smartphone apps from publishing US embassy data that showed embarrassingly high levels of pollution on Monday, and placed activists such as Hu Jia and Ni Yulan under house arrest. |
| Peng, who swiftly jettisoned Putin’s wrap for a jacket offered by her assistant, has played a more prominent role than the wives of recent Chinese leaders. As a famous military singer, she used to be far better known than her husband. | Peng, who swiftly jettisoned Putin’s wrap for a jacket offered by her assistant, has played a more prominent role than the wives of recent Chinese leaders. As a famous military singer, she used to be far better known than her husband. |
| Putin’s gallantry was one of the more comfortable and spontaneous moments he shared at the conference: talks with Barack Obama and the Australian prime minister were frostier. | Putin’s gallantry was one of the more comfortable and spontaneous moments he shared at the conference: talks with Barack Obama and the Australian prime minister were frostier. |
| As Apec host, Xi Jinping set out his vision of an “Asia-Pacific dream”; a Chinese alternative to the US, with Beijing at the heart of greater regional cooperation. | As Apec host, Xi Jinping set out his vision of an “Asia-Pacific dream”; a Chinese alternative to the US, with Beijing at the heart of greater regional cooperation. |
| China has resumed dialogue with Japan and “substantially” concluded a free trade deal with South Korea. Xi also announced on Tuesday that Apec had agreed to begin work towards the possible establishment of the Chinese-promoted Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. Obama said the US priority was the rival Trans-Pacific Partnership, a smaller grouping which does not include China. | China has resumed dialogue with Japan and “substantially” concluded a free trade deal with South Korea. Xi also announced on Tuesday that Apec had agreed to begin work towards the possible establishment of the Chinese-promoted Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. Obama said the US priority was the rival Trans-Pacific Partnership, a smaller grouping which does not include China. |
| Despite growing tensions in the US-China relationship, Chinese television showed Obama and Xi chatting cheerfully as they walked through the grounds of the Zhongnanhai leadership compound before a private dinner following the end of the Apec meeting. They are due to meet again on Wednesday as Obama concludes his state visit. | Despite growing tensions in the US-China relationship, Chinese television showed Obama and Xi chatting cheerfully as they walked through the grounds of the Zhongnanhai leadership compound before a private dinner following the end of the Apec meeting. They are due to meet again on Wednesday as Obama concludes his state visit. |
| The two sides had already announced that they would offer visas lasting up to 10 years to each other’s citizens. The US also said there had been a breakthrough in talks to eliminate duties on IT products. | The two sides had already announced that they would offer visas lasting up to 10 years to each other’s citizens. The US also said there had been a breakthrough in talks to eliminate duties on IT products. |
| Though there were no obvious clashes, the US president’s public encounters with his Russian counterpart at the summit were far less warm. | Though there were no obvious clashes, the US president’s public encounters with his Russian counterpart at the summit were far less warm. |
| As they walked into a meeting room with Xi, Putin said: “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” in the general direction of Obama. | As they walked into a meeting room with Xi, Putin said: “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” in the general direction of Obama. |
| “Yes, it is,” said the other man, addressing his response to no one in particular and avoiding eye contact. | “Yes, it is,” said the other man, addressing his response to no one in particular and avoiding eye contact. |
| Putin reached out to give Obama a slap on the back as the men halted, but appeared to miss as the US president turned in another direction. The White House said the men spoke three times on Tuesday, discussing issues including Ukraine, Syria and the nuclear talks with Iran. | |
| Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, reportedly called for an apology and compensation for the downing of MH17 at a 15-minute meeting with Putin. He had initially promised to “shirtfront” Putin over the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine, but later said merely that they would have a “robust” conversation. | Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, reportedly called for an apology and compensation for the downing of MH17 at a 15-minute meeting with Putin. He had initially promised to “shirtfront” Putin over the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine, but later said merely that they would have a “robust” conversation. |
| Thirty-eight Australians were among the 298 dead when the plane was shot down. Abbott told Putin that Australia possessed information clearly pointing to Russian involvement in the rebel attack and said that if true it “would be a very serious matter”, according to a summary from the prime minister’s office. | Thirty-eight Australians were among the 298 dead when the plane was shot down. Abbott told Putin that Australia possessed information clearly pointing to Russian involvement in the rebel attack and said that if true it “would be a very serious matter”, according to a summary from the prime minister’s office. |
| “Those types of meetings on the edges of summits, and the ways they are presented, are about sending a message for public consumption – and that message is: Russia is isolated,” said Nicholas Kitchen, editor in chief of LSE Ideas and an expert on US foreign policy. | “Those types of meetings on the edges of summits, and the ways they are presented, are about sending a message for public consumption – and that message is: Russia is isolated,” said Nicholas Kitchen, editor in chief of LSE Ideas and an expert on US foreign policy. |
| “Russia is very isolated following the crisis in Ukraine and many observers have been surprised both by how strong the sanctions regime is and how much the US and the other countries have stayed together on it … The messages at Apec are about reinforcing that reality.” | |
| He added: “The show of it won’t bother the Kremlin one bit; it’s quite happy to present itself to its people as the great resistor against American imperialism.” | He added: “The show of it won’t bother the Kremlin one bit; it’s quite happy to present itself to its people as the great resistor against American imperialism.” |
| But its underlying problem is real: sanctions and the falling oil price are forcing Russia to use its reserves to prop up the rouble. | But its underlying problem is real: sanctions and the falling oil price are forcing Russia to use its reserves to prop up the rouble. |
| On Monday Xi and the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, engaged in a notably frosty encounter, shaking hands without smiling. The two men were meeting for the first time since they became leaders in 2012, signalling a thaw in relations that have been at their worst for years. | On Monday Xi and the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, engaged in a notably frosty encounter, shaking hands without smiling. The two men were meeting for the first time since they became leaders in 2012, signalling a thaw in relations that have been at their worst for years. |
| “My guess is that both sides agreed they could not continue as they were doing, but [neither wants] to be seen as the one who capitulated. They need to play it cool,” said Shogo Suzuki, an expert on Sino-Japanese relations at the University of Manchester. | “My guess is that both sides agreed they could not continue as they were doing, but [neither wants] to be seen as the one who capitulated. They need to play it cool,” said Shogo Suzuki, an expert on Sino-Japanese relations at the University of Manchester. |
| “Both sides see each other as the focal point of [their country’s] nationalisms.” | “Both sides see each other as the focal point of [their country’s] nationalisms.” |
| Obama and several other Apec attendees will meet again at an Asean meeting in Burma and then the G20 in Brisbane at the weekend. | Obama and several other Apec attendees will meet again at an Asean meeting in Burma and then the G20 in Brisbane at the weekend. |