Just days after hosting Donald Trump in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping is now preparing to welcome another powerful world leader — his long-time ally Vladimir Putin — in a move that is already raising eyebrows across the global political stage.

Cbinews.tv reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected in Beijing on Tuesday for a high-profile state visit, less than a week after US President Donald Trump wrapped up talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The timing of the visit is being seen as highly symbolic, with China appearing keen to show that despite improving engagement with Washington, its partnership with Moscow remains firmly intact.

Putin’s trip comes at a tense moment globally, as both Russia and China navigate their complicated relationships with the United States amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The growing US-Iran crisis, which has shaken global oil markets and diverted Washington’s attention, is also expected to feature heavily in discussions between Xi and Putin.

Observers say Beijing is carefully positioning itself as a more “responsible” global power while Trump’s administration remains entangled in multiple international crises.

This latest meeting further highlights the increasingly close ties between China and Russia. Over the past two decades, Xi and Putin have built a strong political and economic partnership rooted in a shared distrust of Western influence, particularly that of the United States.

In fact, this will reportedly be Putin’s 25th visit to China during his presidency, with both leaders having met more than 40 times over the years. They often publicly refer to one another as “old friends”.

Talks expected on Wednesday are likely to cover the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, energy cooperation, trade relations, security issues, and their shared push for what they describe as a “multipolar world” — one not dominated by American power.

The Kremlin has already hinted that both leaders may release a joint declaration promoting a “new type of international relations”.

China’s support has become increasingly important for Moscow since Western sanctions hit Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Beijing has continued purchasing large volumes of discounted Russian oil, making Russia China’s leading crude supplier.

At the same time, China’s economic and technological strength has made Russia increasingly dependent on its Asian neighbour as the partnership between the two powers deepens.

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