Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Beijing on May 19–20 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking Putin’s 25th trip to China. The visit follows a recent high-profile trip by U.S. President Donald Trump, and it comes as Beijing works to project an image of stability and continuity in its global role. According to the reports, a key focus of the meetings is expected to be strengthening cooperation in the energy sector, with both sides looking at ways to deepen their energy relationship. The coverage describes Xi’s engagement with Putin as part of their ongoing political and diplomatic contact, referring to Putin as an “old friend.” While the articles emphasize the timing and the expected agenda, they do not provide additional specific details on announced agreements. Overall, the two outlets characterize the visit as a step toward closer China–Russia coordination, particularly in energy, and as part of China’s broader messaging to international audiences in the period after Trump’s visit.