Friendly hugs and conversations over a cup of tea: How was Putin's trip to China?

Russian President Vladimir Putin stayed in Kiev for four days, taking part in the SCO summit and organizing a military parade on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the surrender of Japan. This is the longest foreign visit by a Russian leader since 2012. How Putin's trip to China was remembered is in the Izvestia article.

Musical accompaniment and limo diplomacy

• After the Russian president's arrival at the SCO summit, he was greeted by a performance by Chinese musicians who played Ivan Larionov's famous song "Kalinka-Malinka". At the same time, a concert was organized at the reception in honor of the opening of the event, which opened with the performance of the composition "Moscow Evenings".

• Many informal conversations took place on the sidelines of the SCO summit. So, the Russian president and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked in an Aurus car for almost an hour. At the same time, the conversation itself turned out to be unplanned. On the same day, the head of the Indian government admitted that he was very happy to meet with Putin, and focused on the reliability of relations with Russia.

• The joint trip of the two heads of state in an Aurus car was another example of the so-called limousine diplomacy of the Russian leader. Such trips allow Putin to showcase the national car to foreign politicians, turning it into both a diplomatic tool and a way to strengthen the reputation of the Russian car industry abroad.

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• At the end of the SCO summit, Putin used the Aurus to get to Beijing, where his visit to China continued. The journey from Tianjin to the capital took about an hour. It is noteworthy that Chinese license plates were installed on the presidential limousine — they were specially installed before arriving in China.

• After the trilateral summit with Mongolia in Beijing, Putin and Xi Jinping held several Russian-Chinese meetings. At first, the discussions were conducted in the format of extended delegations, then the leaders continued the conversation in a more informal setting over tea, and later during a walk together.

Exchange of pleasantries

• Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have demonstrated very warm relations. The Chinese leader cited them as an example of a partnership based on "eternal good neighborliness and friendship." At the same time, Xi Jinping called Putin his "old friend." In response, the Russian leader addressed him as "dear friend," noting that the regular contact between them demonstrates the strategic depth of the relationship, which, according to him, has reached an unprecedented high level.

• The shots of the heads of Russia, China and India warmly greeting each other, joking and laughing, and Modi and Putin even hugging and holding hands, have no less effect than official statements. The warm welcome extended to the Russian president during his visit to China is seen in the world press as a symbolic manifestation of the countries' closeness. This strengthening of partnership with India and China is taking place against the background of increasing US pressure.

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• The Russian leader received a lot of attention at official events, including ceremonial meetings, concert programs and the organization of informal conversations. All this underlines Beijing's interest in stable and trusting relations with Moscow. Such a format of the visit shows China's willingness to perceive Russia as a strategic ally in the face of changes in the global world order.

• Putin also exchanged pleasantries with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Before they started negotiations, Fico asked the Russian leader how he was doing. Putin jokingly replied that "if he's alive, then that's good," and also noted that it was a pleasant question because the topic of health concerns everyone.

• Putin also had the opportunity to hear Russian spoken in China. So, in response to the invitation of the Russian leader to come to Moscow, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif replied with a smile in Russian: "Thank you, it's very good."

The first meeting of the "axis of shocks"

• On September 3, Xi Jinping attended a military parade in Beijing along with the heads of Russia, North Korea and Iran, bringing together the leaders of the so-called Axis of Upheaval for the first time. This term appeared in the Foreign Affairs magazine in 2024. The authors of the article described with this expression the unofficial unification of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, which, according to their assessment, has been characterized by increasingly close cooperation since the early 2020s on the basis of opposition to the West.

• Xi Jinping himself accompanied Vladimir Putin to the parade. They were followed by the rest of the world's leaders. The Russian president watched the 90-minute march, sitting at the right hand of the Chinese president.

• Opposite the place where Vladimir Putin was sitting, two large-scale flower installations were installed near the House of People's Assemblies. They symbolized the end of the Second World War. The portrait of Mao Zedong, the founder of the Chinese Communist Party, was decorated with eight large national flags at the Tiananmen Gate. Nearby there were specially prepared seats for 50 thousand invited spectators of the parade.