Xi’s back-to-back meetings with Trump and Putin in Beijing: everything you need to know

The presidents of the United States and Russia visited Beijing on separate trips in May to meet with President Xi Jinping. The China-morning-post" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="12558" data-entity-type="organization">South China Morning Post produced extensive coverage of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s summit meetings in Beijing. Here are some of the highlights of our coverage, showing you what happened, what it means, and what’s next. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. The Xi-Trump summit is over. What comes next in the China-rivalry" class="entity-link entity-topic" data-entity-id="127596" data-entity-type="topic">US-China rivalry?The US president’s trip to Beijing has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ and ‘historic’ but there are still many known unknowns in ties.2. Xi and Putin’s united front – from tigers to trade: the summit takeawaysChinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin attend a welcome ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: APPutin’s trip to Beijing came only days after US President Donald Trump’s closely watched visit to the Chinese capital, the back-to-back summits highlighting the strong trust between Beijing and Moscow and China’s ability to manage ties with the two major powers.3. Could Putin, Trump visits pave the way for ‘trilateral coordination’ with China?As energy cooperation tops the summit agenda, back-to-back state visits of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could pave the way for emerging “trilateral coordination” between China, Russia and the United States.4. Trump leaves China after much pomp and pageantry, but little to show for itAs US President Donald Trump landed back in Washington on Friday after his two-day summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a quick US assessment on one of the most consequential diplomatic visits of Trump’s presidency was: impressive optics, trademark flawless Chinese hosting, but disappointing concrete achievements, according to analysts, industry trade groups and former US officials.5. Substance for Putin, ‘face’ for Trump as China, Russia deepen strategic allianceDays after US President Donald Trump’s visit framed around managing risks, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a raft of agreements and pledged deeper cooperation as they met in Beijing.6. The toast, the tastes and the tech selfie that crowned the US-China summitPhoto: AFPCalling Trump’s visit a “historic” trip, Xi said at the banquet that the two countries “should be partners rather than rivals”.7. Putin is pushing for a ‘serious’ new energy deal in China. Will he get it?The Russian leader arrived in China days after Trump in search of an energy deal, with yuan settlements, pricing potentially on the table.8. Inside the royal garden that is Putin’s ‘second home’ in ChinaThe historic guest villas are situated within the tranquil Diaoyutai Scenic Area in the western suburbs of Beijing. Photo: ShutterstockWhen Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening for a two-day state visit, he once again returned to his “second home” at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, a royal garden that has hosted heavyweights including Richard Nixon, Boris Yeltsin and Kim Jong-un.9. Trump hails ‘fantastic’ China trade deals, signalling Boeing, oil salesUS President Donald Trump poses for photos with President Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing. Photo: AFPUS President Donald Trump said he has secured “fantastic trade deals” during his high-stakes state visit to Beijing, as he met with his counterpart, President Xi Jinping, for a second day in Beijing.10. China’s Xi Jinping to pay first state visit to US in more than a decadeChinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the US this autumn, the first in more than a decade, as the two powers seek stability amid their deepening rivalry.Further Reading