Key facts
- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit meeting on May 20.
- The leaders announced several deals to boost cooperation in economy, trade, education, science, and technology.
- A joint declaration denouncing the U.S.-led Western alliance was released.
- The summit raised questions about the economic implications for Russia.
The recent summit meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, concluding on May 20, generated significant discussion among observers. The leaders announced the signing of several agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including the economy, trade, education, science, and technology. Concurrently, they released a lengthy joint declaration, spanning 47 pages, which criticized the current global hegemony associated with the U.S.-led Western alliance. Despite these announcements, the summit left many with unanswered questions, particularly concerning the economic outcomes for Russia.