The Big Story: Trump then Putin - Is Xi setting the terms now?

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong · May 21, 2026 · 15m

Within the span of just a few days, Xi Jinping welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing, two leaders whose countries remain deeply at odds globally. But while both visits received full state-visit treatment, the tone, optics and outcomes were very different. Trump left Beijing without a major joint statement or formal agreements. Putin, on the other hand, signed more than 20 cooperation deals with Xi, reaffirmed a “multipolar world,” and showcased what both sides called an “unbreakable friendship.” So what exactly is China trying to signal here? And how…