China's Xi set to begin Russia visit in symbolic show of support for Putin against West

Open this photo in gallery: Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, on Oct. 18, 2023.SPUTNIK/Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to start a four-day visit to Russia on Wednesday, giving President Vladimir Putin an important diplomatic boost at a time when the Russian leader is keen to show his country is not isolated on the world stage. Xi, whose country is locked in a tariff war with the United States, is expected to sign numerous agreements to deepen the already tight…