China's President Xi Jinping convened his Russian and North Korean counterparts in Beijing for the first time on Tuesday, a show of solidarity with countries shunned by the West over their role in Europe's worst war in 80 years.
Xi hosted Vladimir Putin for talks at the Great Hall of the People and then at his personal residence, calling him his "old friend".
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A few hours later, Kim Jong Un's armoured train was spotted by a Reuters witness arriving in the Chinese capital. North Korean state media confirmed Kim's arrival, showing his daughter Kim Ju Ae accompanying him.
Ju Ae, whom South Korean intelligence consider her father's most likely successor, is making her international debut after years of being seen next to Kim at major domestic events.
Xi, Putin and Kim are set to take centre stage at a massive military parade on Wednesday, where the Chinese president will flaunt his vision for a new global order as U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" policies strain Western alliances.
Beyond the pomp, analysts are watching whether the trio may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region.
It would also be a blow for Trump, who has talked up his close relations with all three leaders and touted his peacemaking credentials as Russia's three-and-a-half-year war with Ukraine has raged on.
In a thinly veiled swipe at this rival across the Pacific Ocean on Monday, Xi told a summit of more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries: "We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics."
Xi also held talks on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, whose country has been targeted by Trump over its purchases of Russian oil seen as helping finance Putin's war effort.
Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the summit "performative" and accused China and India, the biggest buyers of Russian crude, of being "bad actors" by fuelling Russia's war.
As Putin and Xi met, Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM), opens new tab and China National Petroleum Corporation signed a deal to increase gas supplies and penned an agreement on a new pipeline that could supply China for 30 years.
