MOSCOW/BEIJING –
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing early Thursday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the Kremlin’s hopes for deepening a strategic partnership between the United States’ two most powerful geopolitical rivals.
China and Russia declared a “no borders” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine, triggering Europe’s deadliest land war since World War II.
By choosing China for his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a six-year term that will keep him in power at least until 2030, Putin is sending a message to the world about his priorities and the depth of his personal relationship with Xi.
