Xi basks in spotlight as he hosts Putin days after Trump

Two presidential visits days apart is how Xi Jinping wants the world to see him: talking to everyone, tied to no-one.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on May 20, 2026, in a meeting meant to reaffirm ties just days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China. The quick succession of Trump's and Putin's visits highlighted Beijing's growing role as an international superpower, experts say.

During a high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping offered subtle criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. foreign policy. Xi described China-Russia relations as a source of stability amidst global upheaval, indirectly referring to U.S. actions—especially under Trump—as unilateral and hegemonic. He emphasized the need for strategic coordination between China and Russia in the face of international fragmentation and dominance by certain states, without explicitly naming the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a two-day state visit in a bid to 'develop their privileged partnership'. The visit comes four days after Xi hosted U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing, but the Kremlin insists there is 'no correlation'. The two leaders are expected to discuss all aspects of bilateral relations, including the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.