There Are Limits to China’s ‘No Limits’ Partnership With Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his delegation, right, meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping and his aides, on the left, in Beijing on May 16.
Photographer: Mikhail Metzel/AFP
Vladimir Putin’s latest sit-down with Xi Jinping—the count has now surpassed 40 bilateral summits—was big on bromance imagery. China’s state-controlled People’s Daily confided there was a “restrictive” meeting between the two this week with only a handful of aides present, in addition to larger formal sessions. Xi even attempted a bear hug of Putin.
The two celebrated Putin’s latest presidential “election” win and hailed the 75th anniversary of ties between the two giant Eurasian neighbors. Together, they re-endorsed a 2030 development plan, according to state media organs, and declared “a new starting point” from which Russia and China will “further synergize” their strategies.