Dear Focus Reader,

On the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China last month, Russian leader Vladimir Putin traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week for his second visit in less than a year. The trip comes just over a week since Putin entered a new term in office, extending his rule until 2030. The summit marked a significant moment in global geopolitics, as both leaders reaffirmed their "no-limits" partnership and pledged to deepen their cooperation amidst rising tensions with the West.

During the summit, Putin and Xi signed a joint statement emphasizing their shared opposition to what they perceive as aggressive actions by the United States, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Eastern European regions. In the 7,000-word statement, they also said that "Russian-Chinese relations… are experiencing the best period in their history."

One of the key topics of discussion was Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin thanked Xi for China's proposals for ending the war, which have been generally aligned with Russia's stance on the issue. China's support for Russia, both diplomatically and economically, has been crucial for Moscow's efforts in Ukraine.

The visit was seen by many commentators to signal a deepening alliance between the two countries. The U.S. views both Russia and China as strategic competitors, and their strengthening bond could potentially reshape the geopolitical landscape, impacting issues ranging from regional security to economic cooperation.

The U.S., meanwhile, arranged a visit by Secretary Blinken to Ukraine ahead of Putin's trip, in a show of ongoing U.S. support to the country. The Biden administration also announced steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, computer chips, and medical devices, a move heavily criticized by China.

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