A lot is happening in global geopolitics right now. Amid these developments, Beijing has emerged as the centre of global power politics. US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit to China has not concluded yet, and Russia has already announced a one-day visit by its leader, Vladimir Putin, to Beijing next week.
According to the South China Morning Post, Putin’s visit is likely to take place next week, on May 20. Moscow has described the trip as part of its routine engagements with Beijing, but experts believe it carries much greater geopolitical significance.
At a time when the global order is facing uncertainty, Beijing has positioned itself at the centre of international diplomacy by smoothly managing relations with leaders like Trump and Putin. This will also mark the first time China hosts the leaders of two powerful nations within the same month.
China Hosts All UNSC Powers Within Months
After Putin’s visit, China will become the first country to host the leaders of all four other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council within a span of months. In December last year, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beijing, followed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January. Trump is wrapping up his two-day visit on Friday, and China is now preparing to welcome Putin next week.
Reports suggest that Putin’s visit may not be as grand as Trump’s, as Chinese officials were heavily focused on the US President’s trip. In February, the Kremlin had announced Putin’s upcoming visit to China, though no dates were revealed at the time. On Thursday, the Kremlin again confirmed that Putin would visit China soon, without specifying an exact date.
Beijing’s Growing Role in Global Diplomacy
Visits by both Russian and US leaders to China within such a short period are rare. The last time Beijing hosted leaders from both countries in the same year was during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits in 2001 and 2014.
Beijing has been aiming to deepen ties with Russia, especially after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in 2022. Since then, trade between the two countries has continued to grow, helping support the Russian economy amid Western sanctions.
Trump’s recent visit to China has also been critical for Beijing, as the country is now attempting to stabilise relations with the US. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Trump on Thursday that the two nations should act as partners rather than rivals. Both sides have expressed willingness to work together, making 2026 a potentially historic year for China-US relations.
Keeping these developments in mind, Putin appears keen to maintain regular contact with his Chinese counterpart and has frequently travelled to China over the years. The Russian leader last visited China in September for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. He also attended China’s major military parade during the same month, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
