Part 2/11:
President Xi Jinping wasted no time emphasizing the importance of the China-Russia relationship. He described it as "the most stable, mature, and strategically significant major country relations in today's volatile and changing world." Such a statement is noteworthy given Xi's typically measured diplomatic tone, indicating that Beijing perceives its partnership with Moscow as integral to its broader foreign policy objectives. This growing bond is less about fleeting alliances and more about forging a durable axis of cooperation capable of challenging Western dominance.