Xi held ‘rare’ back-to-back calls with Putin and TrumpAFP, BEIJINGChinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) held back-to-back calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump this week, which analysts said was rare and significant as Beijing positions itself as a stable global power. Xi and Putin spoke for 1.5 hours, the Kremlin’s foreign policy aide said, while Trump said they had a “long and thorough” conversation. Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Xi and Putin hailed the deepening of Chinese-Russian ties as they try to present a united front against the West. Analysts said that while Zhang’s investigation would likely not have been discussed with Putin and Trump, the timing of the calls could be a way for Xi to project confidence domestically.

Source: Taipei Times February 05, 2026 18:09 UTC