Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Brasilia, Brazil, November 13, 2019. (Photo by Reuters via Sputnik)

The growing potential of many countries, including Russia and China, contributes to the development of a multipolar world, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in an interview.

Speaking to the China Media Group on Sunday, Putin said that the shifting of the global balance of power is a fait accompli.

The multipolar world is being created on its own, as a fait accompli. And it is happening due to the growing potential of many countries, including - not least - the growing potential of the People’s Republic of China, the president said.

Putin said that in Asia, countries such as India, Indonesia and many other states are growing such as Brazil in Latin America, adding that Russia is getting back on its feet and getting stronger.

This is a manifestation of the objective process of how a multipolar world is emerging, he added.

China’s unique initiative on security, development and the formation of a global civilization were first proposed in general terms by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 during his first state visit to Russia as Chinese president, he said.

In 2013, he Xi Jinping spoke about the building of a global world and the interconnection between the destinies of all countries and peoples on the planet, and then came up with the One Belt, One Road initiative. This is the practical realization of what he talked about more or less in theoretical terms, Putin was quoted by Chinese state television as saying in Moscow.

He noted that consistency and movement toward common goals while understanding the essence of current events is what distinguishes Xi and China’s policy.

The Russian president added that the main advantage of the cooperation concept proposed by China is that within the framework of cooperation, no one imposes anything on others and China only provides opportunities.

This is the difference between President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative and other projects pursued by countries with a colonialist flavor, Putin was quoted as saying.

Putin also said the initiatives proposed by the Chinese president (BRI) are being put into practice these days and are developing well.

The One Belt, One Road initiative also known as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a plan for global infrastructure and energy networks that China launched a decade ago to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes.

This approach, according to experts, aims to position China within the changing world order, where the US is no longer the sole global power, and power centers are becoming more network-based.

Earlier China’s foreign ministry said the country has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations over the past decade.

Putin is due to attend the third Belt and Road Forum which will be held in Beijing on October 17-18. He attended the two previous forums, in 2017 and 2019.

Several other foreign leaders including Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, and Argentine President, Alberto Fernandez, are also scheduled to attend the BRI, Chinese state media reported.