Thread by @KeithZhai

About the term "大范围会谈" (wide-ranging talks) used for the recent meeting between #XiJinping and #Putin - A thread 🧵:

https://twitter.com/KeithZhai/status/1638393882122625024

1/ The word "大范围会谈" seems to be a new term in Chinese diplomacy. Beijing often use phrases like "广泛磋商" (broad consultations), "高级别会谈" (high-level talks), and "全面磋商" (comprehensive consultations) to express similar meanings, rather than this term.

2/ For example, "广泛会谈" (wide-ranging talks) is usually used to describe meetings involving different countries, organizations, or stakeholders. The purpose of these talks is to discuss, negotiate, and build consensus on certain issues or topics to resolve disputes.

3/ China's Foreign Affairs used "广泛会谈" when referring to the border disputes between China and India, and said that the two countries' armies held wide-ranging talks to discuss ways to restore peace in the border areas.

4/ In my understanding, "大范围会谈" as a new diplomatic term refers to a wide-ranging meeting between China and Russia involving many government departments and stakeholders.
#ChinaRussia

5/ The scope is so wide that it can hardly be described without using the term. The talks covered various issues such as IR, trade, security, technology, cooperation, and resolving the Russia-Ukraine, aiming to promote a new type of cooperation under the premise of non-alignment.

6/ The talks also involved other countries, such as the leaders mentioned the US for 7 times. They pointed out that the US adheres to the Cold War mentality and implements the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," negatively impacting the region's peace and stability.

7/ The meeting between Xi Jinping and Putin might be called "大范围会谈" because it involved many participants, including high-level leaders and various government departments from both China and Russia.

8/Though the meeting was mainly a bilateral talk between the two countries, the officials and departments involved covered a wide range of fields, so it can be considered a "wide-ranging talk."

9/ As Russian PM said, he led a delegation that included almost all important cabinet members, including six deputy prime ministers. This shows that the talks covered multiple areas of cooperation and discussion, making it more significant.

10/ In such wide-ranging talks, both sides can have in-depth discussions on all imaginable topics to promote the development and deepening of bilateral relations.

As China described it, this was a "journey of friendship, cooperation, and peace" . Although the publicly available information may not fully support the term "大范围会谈," perhaps we will only be able to understand the historical significance of this visit when the dust settles.

Need to make sure this is clear, the word itself is not entirely new but the way to use it is new in the bilateral context.