China Hosts Putin As Xi Balances Russia Ties And U.S. Diplomacy

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a series of high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding another layer to a week marked by major diplomatic exchanges involving the United States, China and Russia. Putin’s aircraft landed in the Chinese capital where he was received by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, an honor guard, and groups of young flag-waving supporters displaying both Russian and Chinese flags. The visit comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded talks in China, placing Beijing at the center of overlapping diplomatic engagements with both Washington and Moscow. Xi’s…