Nuclear energy, Taiwan and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’: Key points from the Xi-Putin talks
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- Xi welcomed Putin in Beijing on May 20 with an honor guard and gun salute at the Great Hall of the People, marking a high‑profile ceremony that included a tea ceremony.
- Xi and Putin signed a 9,935‑word joint statement covering nuclear security, Taiwan, wildlife and other issues, but announced no concrete deal on the long‑awaited Russia‑China natural gas pipeline.
- Trump is criticized in the joint statement for his “Golden Dome” project, reflecting Beijing and Moscow’s shared opposition to U.S. initiatives.
- Russia hopes to power its flagship GigaChat AI model with Chinese‑made chips, according to Sberbank CEO German Gref, as sanctions limit access to Western hardware abroad.
- China remains Russia’s largest trading partner with about $240 billion in trade, while Russia is China’s fifth‑largest partner, underscoring the economic interdependence highlighted in the talks.
Why it matters: Russia gains access to Chinese chips for its GigaChat AI, bolstering its tech ambitions despite sanctions, while U.S. influence is undercut as Beijing and Moscow publicly denounce Trump’s project.
