Xi Jinping, Putin Hold Beijing Talks Following Trump’s High-Profile Diplomatic Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold high-level talks in Beijing on Wednesday, with the summit expected to focus on bilateral cooperation, global geopolitical issues and strengthening their strategic partnership. The meeting comes just days after US President Donald Trump visited the Chinese capital, drawing international attention to the diplomatic optics surrounding the back-to-back engagements.

The summit is expected to conclude with an informal tea meeting between Xi and Putin, a format often viewed as a sign of personal rapport and political closeness in Chinese diplomacy. Xi has previously hosted select foreign leaders for tea discussions at Zhongnanhai, the former imperial garden complex that now serves as the headquarters of China’s ruling Communist Party and central government. During Putin’s previous visit in 2024, the two leaders were photographed speaking outdoors without formal attire, highlighting what both sides describe as a close personal friendship.

Analysts say Beijing is likely to use the summit to reinforce its image as a major global diplomatic power amid an increasingly fractured international order. Chinese state media has portrayed the consecutive visits by the leaders of the United States and Russia as evidence of China’s growing geopolitical influence and its central role in shaping international affairs.

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Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening and was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during an official reception ceremony featuring an honour guard and groups of Chinese youths waving Russian and Chinese flags. The Russian president is accompanied by a large delegation that includes deputy prime ministers, ministers and senior executives from state corporations and major financial institutions.

The visit comes as economic cooperation between China and Russia shows signs of recovery after a slowdown last year. Bilateral trade reportedly rose more than 16 percent during the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, following a decline in overall trade value last year. Russia has increasingly relied on China as a major economic partner since Western sanctions were imposed over the war in Ukraine, particularly in the energy and financial sectors.

According to the Kremlin, around 40 agreements and cooperation documents are expected to be signed during the visit, along with a lengthy joint statement emphasising a “multipolar world order” and a “new type of international relations.” Discussions are also expected to include the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, a major energy project aimed at expanding Russian natural gas exports to China as both countries deepen their long-term strategic and economic ties.

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