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How Xi and Putin are trying to shape a polycentric world. Here are the takeaways
The Chinese and Russian leaders are holding talks in Beijing, soon after Trump’s visit
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Laura ZhouPublished: 12:46pm, 20 May 2026Updated: 12:49pm, 20 May 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday.
Putin’s trip to Beijing came only days after US President Donald Trump’s closely watched visit to the Chinese capital, and the back-to-back summits highlighted the strong trust between Beijing and Moscow and China’s ability to manage ties with the two major powers.Here are the main takeaways from their talks on Wednesday morning.
‘Jungle law’
Xi warned against the risk of a regression to “jungle law” in global affairs, stressing the need to push for “back-to-back” strategic coordination with Russia.
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The two countries renewed their friendship treaty.
Putin described Russia-China ties as being at an “unprecedented level”.
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“Our cooperation in foreign policy is one of the main stabilising factors on the international stage. A complex process of forming a polycentric world based on a balance of interests of all its participants is under way,” Putin said, according to a readout from the Kremlin.
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