Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet in Beijing less than a week after Trump visit

Key Points:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping warmly welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a grand ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, shortly after hosting former US President Donald Trump in the same venue.
• The leaders began talks with a smaller "narrow format meeting" to discuss sensitive issues, followed by a larger meeting with their delegations, focusing on national development, trade, and geopolitical concerns.
• Xi emphasized the need for mutual support between China and Russia and called for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Middle East, while Putin highlighted the strong bilateral relationship and Russia's role as a reliable energy supplier.
• Economic cooperation is a key agenda, with China confirming a purchase of 200 Boeing jets and seeking to extend a US-China trade agreement, signaling ongoing engagement amid complex international dynamics.
• The optics of Xi's meetings with Putin and Trump reflect differing diplomatic tones, with Xi and Putin showing a notably warm relationship compared to the more adversarial China-US interactions.