Xi and Putin Align Closely as China Positions Itself as a Global Alternative Leader.

In a symbolic display of togetherness, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin stood next to each other in Beijing, emanating an image of power and unity. In an era of unparalleled upheaval in the global landscape, the two leaders are establishing themselves as both partners and creators of a vision that contests the enduring supremacy of Western authorities.

• Xi, receiving Putin with significant formality, emphasized that China views itself as a force beyond mere regional influence—it seeks to create an alternative international order. For Putin, whose nation has been experiencing increasing isolation from the West due to persistent sanctions and disputes, China serves as a vital ally in maintaining Russia’s influence. The two leaders are showcasing their collaboration as the basis for a new multipolar world order.

• The Beijing summit featured meticulously planned demonstrations of solidarity, including military bands performing national anthems and extensive dialogues on trade, energy, and defense collaboration. The message was clear: China and Russia aim to position themselves as viable alternatives to U.S. and Western dominance in the world.

A Tactical Alliance Transforming World Influence

The increasing intimacy between Beijing and Moscow is not coincidental. It is motivated by common discontent with Western dominance and a collective wish to mold global institutions to their advantage. Xi has often discussed the creation of a “community with a shared future for mankind,” a term that highlights his goal of establishing global structures that compete with those headed by Washington and its partners. Putin, for his part, has taken advantage of this chance to demonstrate to the world that Russia stands not alone, despite facing global isolation.

• The two nations are quickly enhancing their economic collaboration. China has emerged as Russia’s main trading partner, with agreements encompassing everything from energy exports to the exchange of advanced technology. This collaboration enables Russia to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions while granting China access to vital natural resources and military knowledge.

• Both leaders are coordinating their messaging regarding sovereignty and non-intervention, offering a nuanced critique of the U.S. and its allies, which frequently link assistance and collaboration to democratic reforms or human rights stipulations. By positioning themselves as allies who honor domestic matters, Xi and Putin attract other countries—especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America—that are cautious of Western dominance.

• On the international scene, the perception of their solidarity holds significance. The picture of Xi and Putin standing side by side conveys a strong message that China and Russia are no longer satisfied with being secondary players in global politics. Rather, they are establishing themselves as leaders of a different coalition—one that contests the standards set by the West.

• Though uncertainties exist regarding the sustainability of this alliance due to their differing long-term goals, for the moment, Xi and Putin are aligned by a shared objective: altering the global power dynamics. Their expanding alliance not only indicates the emergence of a new geopolitical alignment but also underscores China’s commitment to position itself as an alternative global leader in a divided world

Close rapport

• The summit is a showcase for closer ties between China and Russia, as well as the friendship struck up over the years by their two autocratic leaders.

• The deep personal rapport between the two men was on show Sunday evening, when Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome banquet for attending leaders.

• Footage released by Russian state news agency RIA showed Xi and Putin gesturing animatedly and smiling as they chatted at the event, showing a different side of the typically restrained Chinese leader – and his warm and relaxed demeanor with his Russian counterpart.

The SCO summit is also the leaders’ first opportunity to meet since Putin’s summit with Trump in Alaska in August – and comes as Putin resists Western pressure to end his onslaught in Ukraine.

• Just last week, Moscow’s forces carried out their second largest aerial attack to date on Ukraine.

On Monday, Putin used his speech at the SCO summit to reiterate his talking points on the war in Ukraine, saying the crisis “did not arise as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, but rather as a consequence of a coup d’état in Ukraine, which was supported and provoked by the West.”

• Moscow launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, after Russia’s troops previously seized the Crimea and swathes of eastern Ukraine.

• The Russian leader praised efforts by China and India at facilitating the resolution of the crisis, and described the “understanding” reached with Trump at the Alaska meeting as “opening the way to peace in Ukraine.”

• “During the bilateral meetings scheduled for today and tomorrow, I will, of course, inform my colleagues in more detail and thoroughly about the results of the negotiations in Alaska,” Putin said, adding that he had already informed Xi “in detail” during a lunch on Sunday.

Observers said the Russian leader would have used the gathering to show that he’s not alone on the global stage.

• “(Putin) will seek to frame Russia’s resilience and China’s backing as evidence that Western sanctions and isolation have not worked,” Li Mingjiang, an associate professor at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said ahead of the gathering.

• “At the same time, he will try to deepen strategic alignment with Beijing, in particular to ensure Chinese supply of dual-use goods and equipment to Russia (and) to show that Moscow has strong partners even as Washington ramps up its push to end the war.”

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Ukraine war looms over summit

• China has emerged as a key pillar of diplomatic and economic support for Putin’s regime since the early days of the Ukraine invasion, even as it claims neutrality in the conflict.

• Chinese firms have bought up swaths of discounted Russian oil and provided it with critical trade, including dual use goods that Western leaders say have powered Russia’s defense industrial base. Beijing defends its “normal trade” with Russia.

• Trump earlier this summer threatened to take aim at that partnership, saying China could face major tariffs on its goods if it continued to purchase fuel from Russia as it wages war.

• But even as the US imposed such penalties on India last week, it has so far slow-rolled that threat as it seeks a broader trade agreement with Beijing.

• Trump’s whopping 50% tariff on India has soured ties with Modi – and accelerated a nascent and cautious rapprochement between New Delhi and Beijing.

• The Indian leader met with Xi on Sunday in his first trip to China in seven years, as both countries face stiff US tariffs and Western scrutiny over their relationships with Russia.

Xi, Putin and Modi share a laugh at security summit

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On Monday, Modi highlighted his ties with both his host and the Russian leader at the SCO summit, embracing Putin before the two walked over hand in hand to greet Xi. The three leaders then shared a conversation marked by smiles and laughter.

• Modi and Putin also held a nearly hour-long private meeting in the Russian presidential limousine, the Aurus, while en route to their formal talks, according to Russian state media.

• “India and Russia have always stood shoulder to shoulder even in the most difficult times,” Modi said at the start of the meeting. “We have been in constant dialogue on the situation in Ukraine. We welcome all the recent efforts for peace.”

• A readout from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders discussed the latest developments concerning Ukraine. “(Modi) reiterated his support for the recent initiatives that have been taken to address the conflict in Ukraine, and emphasized the need to expedite a cessation of the conflict, and find a durable peace settlement,” the ministry said.

• Observers say that Xi sees the gathering – and a massive military parade that he’ll host on Wednesday in Beijing, expected to be attended by Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as well as some two dozen other leaders – as a critically timed diplomatic push.

• Chinese officials touted this year’s SCO as the largest yet, saying ahead of the event that 20 leaders from across Asia and the Middle East would join. In addition to Russia, China and India, SCO members include Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

CNN’s Xenixnews Darya Tarasova contributed reporting.

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