Xi Courts Trump to Stabilize Ties, Deepens Russia Partnership With 40-Plus Deals
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 21
Xi Courts Trump to Stabilize Ties, Deepens Russia Partnership With 40-Plus Deals
8 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 21
Back-to-back Beijing summits showed Xi Jinping using Donald Trump’s three-day visit to steady strained U.S. ties, while using Vladimir Putin’s two-day trip to reinforce a closer strategic alignment.
With Trump, Xi stressed “strategic stability” after months of trade tensions and offered high-profile ceremony, but no joint declaration or public signing; only later did Washington cite Chinese purchases of $17 billion a year in U.S. farm goods and 200 Boeing jets.
With Putin, Xi focused on substance: the two sides signed more than 40 cooperation agreements, issued a joint declaration on a “multipolar world,” and highlighted oil and gas as the relationship’s driving force.
One notable gap was the absence of a formal deal on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a setback for Moscow despite the broader show of partnership.
Taiwan underscored the contrast: Xi warned Trump the issue could trigger confrontation, while Russia publicly backed Beijing’s opposition to Taiwanese independence in any form.
Is the U.S. trading substance for ceremony while China and Russia build a concrete alliance to remake the world order?
Will the new Russia-China gas deal, driven by the Iran war, reshape global energy and challenge U.S. dominance?
Are U.S. export controls accidentally accelerating China's quest for technological independence in the global AI race?
Beijing’s May 2026 Summits: How China’s Dual Engagement with the U.S. and Russia Is Reshaping the Global Order
Overview
In May 2026, Beijing became the center of global diplomacy as Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted back-to-back summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This careful sequencing highlighted China’s strategic ambition to strengthen its role as a key global power. The meetings showcased China’s ability to balance complex relationships with both superpowers, deepening its alignment with Russia while managing its ties with the U.S. These summits underscored China’s growing influence on the world stage and its intent to shape a new international order through sophisticated diplomatic moves.