The show in the skies mirrors the shift on the ground: a new pipeline deal binding Russian gas to Chinese demand for decades.
Putin hailed China ties at a historic peak, anointing Xi as a “dear friend” after meetings at top venues in the capital.
Kim Jong-un’s arrival—featuring his daughter’s international debut—provided a family-inflected twist to high strategy.
Putin’s encounter with Slovakia’s Robert Fico spotlighted divergences within Europe on Ukraine and energy policy.
Visa-free access for Russian citizens from 15 September and a suite of cooperation documents rounded out Beijing’s flurry of announcements.
