Xi hosts Putin after Trump visit as China balances global tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to host Russian President Vladimir Putin just days after welcoming US President Donald Trump to Beijing, as China navigates rising global tensions and competing strategic interests. Xi and Putin have met more than 40 times, with both governments describing relations between China and Russia as the strongest in history. For Beijing, the visit is expected to focus on energy security, trade, Iran, and broader geopolitical coordination. Russia has become o