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On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow, reaffirming their partnership and deepening their strategic cooperation amidst growing geopolitical tensions. The two leaders signed over 20 cooperation agreements aimed at further strengthening ties across energy, defense, and economic sectors.

Xi and Putin's meeting underscored their shared opposition to what they described as "unilateralism and bullying," implicitly directed at the United States. Xi emphasized the importance of their "friendship of steel," and both leaders also reiterated their commitment to countering external pressures, vowing to oppose foreign attempts to isolate or weaken Russia and China. In a joint statement, they criticized Western economic sanctions, tariffs, and military policies, notably pointing to the U.S. missile defense systems as a destabilizing force.

Additionally, Xi's visit coincided with the 80th anniversary of World War II's end, providing a symbolic backdrop for their alignment against perceived Western hegemony.

Analysts have noted that the timing of the meeting was deliberate, coming just days before senior Chinese and U.S. trade officials are set to meet in Geneva, and that it underscores China's ongoing effort to balance its foreign policy priorities: maintaining dialogue with the U.S. while deepening strategic ties with countries that share its broader worldview.

Officials say the U.S.-China talks will focus on industrial overcapacity, market access, and economic "non-market practices," though expectations for concrete outcomes remain low. Still, the meeting itself is being viewed as a positive step, signaling that both sides are willing to manage tensions even as strategic competition intensifies.

In the lead-up to the talks, China cut interest rates and lowered the reserve requirement ratio for banks, moves seen as tactical cushioning for its slowing economy, but also potentially helpful in signaling flexibility as trade negotiations resume.

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