The Peking order: Xi meets Putin after Trump
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What did the week’s back‑to‑back visits by Trump and Putin reveal about China’s diplomatic strategy?
The Economist.
Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist. I'm Rosie Blore and
I'm Jason Palmer.
Today on the show, how did the Premier League become so successful? And why people choose holidays that are terrifying?
First up though.
It's definitely summit season. Last week, fanfare for Donald Trump's visit to China. Only days later, Vladimir Putin got in there too, and once again the red carpet was rolled out in Beijing. It's good business for the Chinese marching bands, all those singing children, and of course the sumptuous banquets. Putin was waved off yesterday with smiles, handshakes, and waving flags. But this isn't just about pomp for China. There's politics too.
The timing of Putin's visit to Beijing really sends an unmistakable signal that China is not going to sacrifice its close relationship with Russia just for the sake of better ties with the US.
Jeremy Page is a host of Drumtower, our China podcast, and our chief China correspondent.
But it also shows how China is now moving much closer to the role Xi Jinping has always craved as the fulcrum of global geopolitics.
Let's fill in some context, Jeremy. Tell me about the relationship between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Yeah, it's a remarkably close relationship. They've known each other for more than thirteen years now. They've met something like forty times. And in the past, we've seen some unusual displays of camaraderie. They've swigged vodka together, they've made pancakes, they watched a hockey game. And I think there's a genuine personal connection. They have similar views on a lot of things. I think similar views on history, the collapse of the Soviet Union. They've definitely Got a similar leadership style. They're both very strong nationalist leaders. But they also have this deep hostility towards Western liberal democracy and a determination to challenge the US-led global order that was established after the end of World War II, to basically give their countries greater say in world affairs, but also to allow them to survive as
Autocratic regimes. That said, I think the balance of power and the relationship has really shifted dramatically since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in twenty twenty-two, because Russia is now increasingly reliant on Chinese economic support as well as dual use materials that are needed for that war in Ukraine.
So it's still something of a bromance. What do you think Putin specifically wanted from this visit?
I think one of his main goals was probably to get a readout on the Trump visit to make sure that China and America aren't planning anything that might jeopardize Russian interests, especially in Ukraine. He definitely wanted to ensure that China would continue to provide that economic support and dual use items like drones, electronics, engine parts that are needed for the war in Ukraine. He probably wanted to coordinate positions on the war in the Middle East and American policy in Latin America and Asia. And he got most of that. But the other big priority for Putin, which he doesn't seem to have made progress on, was trying to get a deal to launch this long-delayed project to build a new gas pipeline between Russia and China.
They've been wrangling over that for years. Basically, China's been driving a hard bargain. Over price and volume and other terms. And the Russians were hoping that China might show a bit more flexibility since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz showed the vulnerability of China's seaborne energy imports. But it looks like Xi Jinping stood firm on that issue and his demands for better terms. And that's a real demonstration of the power dynamics in the relationship. Basically, Russia needs China.
How does Xi Jinping balance the US‑China rivalry while keeping a close partnership with Russia?
China far more than China needs Russia.
So if China very much has the upper hand then, what did Xi Jinping want out of Putin's visit?
So Xi Jinping, I think, wanted to demonstrate that he still has a powerful partner. In opposing American leadership in the world чен's often tried hide behind Russia in international affairs, so it's useful for him.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What did the week’s back‑to‑back visits by Trump and Putin reveal about China’s diplomatic strategy?
0:03–4:36
2
How does Xi Jinping balance the US‑China rivalry while keeping a close partnership with Russia?
4:36–10:30
3
What personal ties and shared worldview bind Xi and Putin together?
10:30–17:46
4
Why was Putin’s Beijing visit focused on securing Russian interests in Ukraine and energy?
17:46–20:19