China has successively hosted high-level meetings with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, receiving both visits with top protocol. Military bands, honor guards, red carpets, and large-scale welcome ceremonies were nearly identical in both cases.
However, Beijing also deliberately highlighted differences through subtle details. Trump was met at the airport by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, while Putin was received by a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo. During Putin’s meeting with Xi Jinping, he again emphasized his “old friend” relationship with China. Chinese military bands played the Russian classic Moscow Nights, creating a strong atmosphere of goodwill. Xi and Putin addressed each other as “dear friend” and “old friend,” stressing “strategic cooperation,” “mutual trust,” and “partnership.” The two sides also jointly criticized US nuclear policy and Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system.
However, behind the grand diplomatic spectacle, the actual outcomes of both summits were relatively limited. While Trump and Xi attempted to project an atmosphere of cooperation, there was no major breakthrough on key issues such as semiconductor exports and tariffs. On the Russian side, despite signaling “basic consensus” on long-delayed energy cooperation projects such as the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, no formal agreement was ultimately signed.
Observers argue that the biggest winner of both summits is Xi Jinping himself. China used the visits to demonstrate that it can both compete with the United States and serve as a key economic and diplomatic partner for Russia, further consolidating its position as a central player in the US–China–Russia triangle.
Commentary:
From Trump and Putin’s successive visits to China, the focus appears less about concrete agreements and more about Beijing showcasing itself as a central hub in the US–China–Russia triangle, projecting an image as a “center of a new global order.”
At the same time, the summits highlight Russia’s growing dependence on China amid the Ukraine war and Western sanctions, while Beijing remains cautious. Despite diplomatic closeness, their core interests are not fully aligned. The delayed progress on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline underscores China’s reluctance to become overly dependent on Russian energy.
If China continues to compete with the US while tightly engaging Russia, it will become more deeply embedded in global geopolitical rivalry. Behind the appearance of diplomatic strength lies increasing strategic risk and international pressure.