'China holds the cards': Why Putin's visit to Beijing after Trump matters As Vladimir Putin prepares to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing, analysts are highlighting a crucial aspect of this summit: China's growing diplomatic influence.
The back to back visits by Trump and now Putin underscore China's positioning as a central player capable of engaging rival powers on its own terms.
The significance of these summits extends beyond the bilateral relationship between Russia and China. In recent years, Beijing has been consolidating its role at the center of an increasingly fragmented global order.