Mr Xi’s meetings with Mr Putin affirmed the importance of Russia in China’s foreign policy strategy. Mr Xi is the first major global leader to visit Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, giving his trip strong diplomatic significance. Despite China’s insistence of neutrality in the conflict, we continue to see the country as Russia-leaning—a stance that has undermined China’s relationship with the US and Europe. Mr Xi’s visit further undermined China’s assertions of neutrality regarding Ukraine, particularly given concerns that China could provide lethal aid to the Russian military. China-Russia ties will ... (full story)